Questions for reflection

As you slowly read this Gospel passage, allow its words to soak into your mind. You may want to light a candle to help you ponder the passage, reflect on the image above or on the words of Pope Francis below. You might want to imagine that you are asking Jesus to increase your faith. How does he respond?

1. What is this passage saying to you?

2. What word(s), sentence or phrase in this Gospel passage most caught your attention; most touched your heart; most challenged you; most comforted you? Is there anything in this passage that you found uncomfortable or startling?

3. ‘The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ What people, events or resources strengthen you faith? What are you doing to learn more about your faith? Do you think that because you sometimes doubt, that your faith is inadequate?

4. ‘‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.’ Are you encouraged that despite your faith being as small as a mustard seed you can still accomplish wondrous deeds? What seeds of faith have you planted that have flourished?

5. ‘ Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?’ What are you grateful to God for? How do you show your gratitude?

6. “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” Do you consider being a servant of God and obligation or duty rather than a privilege? Do you expect privileges you expect when you carry out an act of service? Who do you know in your community who serves others selflessly?

St Oscar Romero’s words can give us strength: “Where injustice, violence, and brute force seem to hold sway, the just person can feel helpless. Nevertheless, we have the vigorous force of God, which is faith. If we who are tiny before the forces of the world have faith in God, then we are more powerful than all the armies of the world.”

Pope Francis tells us:

Today, the Reading from the Gospel begins like this: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’”. Yes, Lord, our faith is small, our faith is weak and fragile, but we offer it to you as it is, so that you can make it grow’

And how does the Lord answer us? He responds: “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you”. A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus says that faith this size, small but true and sincere, suffices to achieve what is humanly impossible, unthinkable. And it is true! We all know people who are simple, humble, but whose faith is so strong it can move mountains! Let us think, for example, of some mothers and fathers who face very difficult situations; or of some sick, and even gravely ill, people who transmit serenity to those who come to visit them. These people, because of their faith, do not boast about what they do, rather, as Jesus asks in the Gospel, they say: “‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty”. How many people among us have such strong, humble faith, and what good they do!

October is also the month of the Rosary. Let us join spiritually together in this act of trust in our Mother, and let us receive from her hands the crown of the Rosary: The Rosary is a school of prayer, the Rosary is a school of faith!

We shall now spend 10 minutes reflecting on this scripture passage by reading, repeating, responding and resting as described above. We will then share what we thought, felt etc. only if you are comfortable to do so.