Theme: “Faith: The Small Seed That Carries Eternity”
Teclus Ugwueze (Rev Fr)
A. The Question Behind the Question
Beloved in Christ, the Apostles
make what seems like a simple, pious request: “Lord, increase our faith!”
But underneath that request is a
deeper question, one that we all ask in our hearts:
“Lord, how do I keep trusting when
life gets hard?”
“How do I keep believing when
prayers seem unanswered?”
“How do I stay hopeful when the
world feels broken?”
This Sunday’s readings speak
directly into that silent, aching space of spiritual fatigue and uncertainty.
And they don’t offer easy answers. Instead, they reveal a truth that’s both
challenging and liberating: Faith isn’t about quantity. It’s about
direction.
B. Habakkuk: The Cry We All Know
In the first reading, the prophet
Habakkuk is not shy about his frustration:
“How long, O Lord? I cry for help,
but you do not listen!”
“Violence! But you do not
intervene.”
Sound familiar? This could be the
prayer of a parent watching their child drift from the faith. It could be the
voice of a nation worn out by corruption and injustice. It could be your
voice—when you feel like your suffering has outlasted your strength.
God’s answer to Habakkuk is
striking. He doesn’t give a deadline. He doesn’t explain the delay. He simply
says: “The vision still has its time... though it delays, wait for it.”
Faith, then, is not a magic trick
to speed up God. Faith is the courage to wait, trusting that God is still
moving, even in the silence.
C. The Mustard Seed: Small, but Explosive
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to
the Apostles’ request with a surprising image: “If you had faith the size of
a mustard seed…” We often misunderstand this. We think Jesus is saying we
lack enough faith. But the mustard seed isn’t a measure of quantity, it’s a
symbol of potential. The mustard seed is: Tiny, yes. But it contains an
entire tree within it. Buried in soil, yes. But it breaks through earth
with unstoppable force. Insignificant to the eye, yes. But under the
right conditions, it becomes something birds can nest in. So too with
faith: Faith is not proven by size, but by surrender.
You may not feel strong. You may
not have all the answers. But if you take that tiny seed of trust, your yes,
your obedience, your prayer when it’s hard, and plant it in the soil of life,
God can grow it into something eternal.
D. Paul to Timothy: Fan the Flame
In the second reading, Paul urges
Timothy: “Stir into flame the gift of God that you have.” Here again, we
hear a challenge: Don’t let your faith go cold. Fan the flame. Protect it.
Guard the deposit. Why? Because faith is a fire, not a fossil. It
must be fed with the Word. It must be fanned with prayer. It must
be used in action, or it risks burning out. The mustard seed must be
planted. The fire must be stirred. The vision must be awaited. Faith is always
moving, always becoming, never stagnant.
E. The Servant: Faith in Action, Not Applause
And then Jesus adds a final twist.
He gives a parable of the unprofitable servant, who works hard but expects no
reward. “We are unworthy servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” At
first glance, it feels harsh. But Jesus is teaching us that faith is not a
transaction. We don’t serve God to get medals. We serve because we love. We
trust because He is trustworthy. We obey because He is good, even when life is
not. The reward is not applause. The reward is Him.
F. So What Does This Mean for Us?
It means this:
You don’t need to “feel” like a
saint to be one.
Just plant the seed.
You don’t need to understand the
delay.
Just wait on the vision.
You don’t need to perform miracles.
Just be faithful in the ordinary.
You don’t need to impress God.
Just obey with love.
Faith is not about doing more.
It’s about trusting deeper.
Conclusion: When Small is Enough
Beloved, what God is asking from
you today is not more effort, but more trust. Can you give Him your mustard
seed today? That quiet prayer you don’t feel like praying. That act of kindness
no one sees. That surrender you’ve been avoiding. That hurt you’re still
carrying but offering to Him. Place it in His hands. And then wait. Because
small things, with God, are never small.
“Though it delays, wait for it.
It will surely come. It will not be late.” (Habakkuk 2:3)
Download our app using the link below:
Download
Comments
Post a Comment