Pastor's Message

Pastor's Corner

I am on our Germany Pilgrimage with 50 pilgrims to visit the Passion Play in Oberammergau. So, thank you for your prayers, as we will be keeping y'all in ours. Today’s Gospel reading is from the section on discipleship in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. Luke. In this passage, Jesus is emphasizing that right relationships with others is first grounded in right relationship with God. Sensitive to this need for a solid relationship with God first, the disciples ask for an increase in faith so they can be and do all that God would ask of them. Jesus redirects their concern away from volume to quality. It is not the volume of faith that matters, but its depth. It is faith that is the bond between God and disciple. Even a small amount of faith, as small as the mustard seed, which is one of the tiniest of seeds in ancient Palestine, can uproot and toss huge trees into the sea if it is based on a genuine trust in the presence and power of God. In other words, God can use whatever faith you have to work mighty miracles if that faith is based on a trusting relationship with Him. It is God’s presence that can and does powerfully change the world, in His time and in His way. The remainder of the passage emphasizes that faith results in service. An ongoing, prayerful relationship with God is the beginning, but from that relationship should flow service to God and others. St. James, in his letter, wrote that faith without works is a dead faith. Service to God is a duty, not something extra tacked on if you have the time for it.

Jesus uses the image of a household servant to illustrate faith and service. The ancient household servant was responsible for many activities, from working in the fields, to preparing dinner, and then serving the master and his family. These many activities were his duty and were not negotiable. A household servant was on duty around the clock. There were no breaktimes or vacations. There was not even any expectation of praise for performing duties well. Servants displayed humility and understood their position in an ancient household. If a human master was served so faithfully, how much more service is owed to the God who is the Creator of the universe and the Giver of every gift we have! The servants of God know that God is not obligated to them, as if He was their equal. Rather, they are obligated to Him because He is the Creator and Savior. That is the mark of an authentic disciple, humble and joyful service to the God to whom we owe everything we have and everything we are. Committed service is the privilege of the authentic disciple, not a burden. In your prayer time, reflect on the quality of your faith and how you might use that faith in service to God and others. Who knows, you might be the one who will toss a mountain into the sea so that all might know the power of God and grow to love and serve Him. Amen. 

-Fr. Eric