Miniscule ... Miraculous

5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ 6The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a* mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.
7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”
Luke 17: 5-10

How can it be that the smallest glimmmer of faith can transform a human life from one that is limited, even imprisoned by self-determined improbability to one that transcends all rational expectation?

Today's lesson invites us to witness the first disciples who thought that they could only do great things in Jesus' name if they could have MORE Faith. Jesus reminds them that faith is not be quantified (or even qualified) In other words ... I am either faithful, believing in God's grace that has claimed my life and all that it embodies .. or... I am not faithful. It is as simple as that.

The lesson goes on: radiating from faith at the core of our being is a humble,unquestioning motivation to serve others. The miracles that occur are directly related to the open action we take on behalf of others. Again, it is not a matter of measurable magnitude. A gesture, a word, a compassionate moment dedicated in service to another can transform a life...which can result (without our ever knowing it) in miraculous happenings.

I remember the words of one of my wisest mentors: Don't look sideways, Pamela...just do what Jesus is calling you to do. She was relentless in telling me to spend no effort at all trying to compare the extent of my faith, or the degree of excellence of my prayer experiences, to anyone else's. She reminded me that if I continued to assess whether or not I was "ready" or "equipped" for this or that act of service, I would find all sorts of reasons to delay... or to find somebody else to do "it"...whatever "it" happened to be.

Simply believe...simply pray...and simply serve. Stop questioning whether or not any of it makes a difference. Stop attempting to quantify or qualify whether you have what it takes to do what you are wondering about doing for the sake of others.

If you don't know how small a mustard seed is... do yourself a service and go to the spice section of your grocery store and find out. Get the picture? I pray that you do...not for your sake, but for the sake of those Christ is calling you to serve.