“Above all, ask for an increase in Faith, Hope and Charity—for yourself and your loved ones—in order that you may attain your end. Then walk with the Lord through your day in the power of the Holy Spirit, living your faith the the fullest measure.”
And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
– Mark 4:30-32
The Parable of the Mustard Seed in Mark’s Gospel foresees the growth of the kingdom from a small group of apostles and disciples into the universal Catholic Church that will eventually reach every corner of the world; but it also describes the working of faith within the individual Christian.
So, in Matthew 17, when His apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, Jesus answers tells them that if their faith was as a grain of mustard seed, they would be able to move mountains. We should ask the Lord to help us accept and live the power of this faith. And we should ask for an increase in Faith as we strive to love God!
This faith, a theological virtue and gift from God, enables you to perform all that the Lord asks of you and to do so in a way that is pleasing to Him. From the first moments of faith, even when our faith is quite small, we can do far more than we might imagine. You see, the faith that we have received is the very power of Almighty God to do great things. And we should never forget this truth or neglect this gift!
Each of us has a responsibility to give witness to Jesus Christ and this faith. This is a great and noble calling given to every single one of us. This is how we continue the work of Christ to bring about and build up the Kingdom!
Try this! When you awake each morning, give thanks to Almighty God for seeing you safely through the night and granting you a new day. Ask Him for the grace to know and understand what He calls you to do in the ordinary moments of the day, and the courage to follow His will.
Above all, ask for an increase in Faith, Hope and Charity—for yourself and your loved ones—in order that you may attain your end. Then walk with the Lord through your day in the power of the Holy Spirit, living your faith the the fullest measure and shining forth the Lord’s love and mercy.
Amen!
Into the deep!
The readings during Mass for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) are: Ezekiel 17:22-24; | Psalms 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16; | Second Corinthians 5:6-10; | Mark 4:26-34.
Image credit: Shutterstock
A popular and engaging speaker, Deacon Bickerstaff is available to speak at your parish or event. Be sure to check out his Speaker Page to learn more. Into the Deep is a regular feature of the The Integrated Catholic Life™.
Come and Join me on X!
Please help spread the Gospel. Share Deacon Bickerstaff’s article with family and friends on Facebook and other social media.
We are grateful for your support…
We welcome both one-time and monthly donations. A monthly subscriber giving just $10 a month will help cover the cost of operating Integrated Catholic Life for one day! Please help us bring enriching and inspiring Catholic content to readers around the world by giving today. Thank you and may God Bless you for supporting the work of Integrated Catholic Life!
