Enough Faith

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

                                                        Luke 17:5

Mulberry Tree      Vincent VanGogh

One of the subjects most often raised with clergy is the subject of faith. People will either ask questions such as, “How do I grow my faith?” or they will make comments like, “I wish I had your faith.” It’s an interesting conversation starter, because of what our Lord teaches about faith in this passage from Luke. Jesus says that if we only had an itty-bitty speck of faith (the faith of the tiniest mustard seed), you could make a mulberry tree uproot itself from the field where it grows and replant itself in an ocean far far away.  On other words, we have enough faith if we have any faith at all. 

Faith can’t be quantified. The issue isn’t about how much faith we need; it’s about God. It’s about believing that God can accomplish the unimaginable. It’s about whether we believe that God is great enough, powerful enough to accomplish miracles. We do not have to wrestle about how much faith we have; we only need to allow God to use what we have and offer it up willingly.

What is God asking you to do or be for the Kingdom this week? 

What's in yoru bowl?

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.  1 Timothy 6:6

We come into this world alone, and we leave it alone. What matters, is what we do between those two events: birth and death. Think of an empty bowl. That’s what you arrive with: nothing. During our lifetimes, we add stuff to that bowl. Things like relationships, money, possessions, children, cars, experiences, and probably lots more stuff. 

Our bowl will ultimately be empty again as our lives here draw to a close. It matters what we put into our individual bowls. Relationships matter. Experiences matter.  Ultimately, we must make an accounting. What’s in your bowl? Is it filled with nourishment or an ever-increasing pile of superfluous clutter?

And where is God in your bowl?

Blotted Out

Remember not our past sins;
let your compassion be swift to meet us; *
for we have been brought very low.  Psalm 79:8

Simon Berger

“Remember not our sins, O God; let your compassion be swift to meet us.”

How often do you think about your own sinfulness? Have you ever wondered if you’re “good enough?”  It seems that, in spite of trying to live a good life, we often succumb to sinful thoughts, behaviors, and actions. It is why we say a confession every Sunday during celebrations of the Eucharist. Having that time to confess, to take stock, keeps us in relationship with God. Our sins are forgiven whenever we return to God and face the truth about ourselves. Scripture tells us that every sin, except one, can be forgiven.*

God’s love is that complete; God’s compassion, boundless. So no matter where you are, no matter how far you have strayed, no matter how many relationships you have broken, you can be pretty sure that when you decide to mend your ways and turn back to God, God will be right there beside you waiting with outstretched arms.

It’s not too late. Return. You are loved. You are safe. You are God’s. 

* ·        For the unpardonable sin, see Matthew 12: 31-32.   

Rejoice

 `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.   Luke 15:6-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep is a story of  God’s love. It reminds us that even when we have strayed and fallen, sinned and sinned again, God will pursue us.  God is not so much interested in judging us as God is eager to welcome us home. God follows us, waits for us, and celebrates with profound joy when we return.

God does the same for those the world deems incorrigible:  the really lost, the really corrupt, the really hateful.  As Christ’s hands and feet in the world, we welcome them too.

Who craves our attention?  Who silently longs for it? Who does not deserve it?
For I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance.