In today’s gospel, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” And His response is striking: “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.”

A young girl was given a tiny packet of seeds. She planted them in a pot and watered them each day. For weeks, nothing seemed to happen. But she kept at it, trusting something was happening beneath the soil. One morning, she woke to see the first green sprout pushing through. That little seed, almost invisible at first, had been alive with possibility all along.

Faith is like that. It often looks small, like a whispered prayer, an act of kindness, a choice to forgive. But when nurtured and placed in God’s hands, faith grows strong enough to sustain us through trials and even inspire others.

The Prophet Habakkuk reminds us, “The just one, because of faith, shall live.” St. Paul in the second reading urges Timothy to “rekindle the gift of God” and to hold firm with courage. Jesus tells us not to worry about the size of our faith, but to trust in the One who makes it fruitful.

This week, let us water the “mustard seeds” of our lives, prayer, patience, and love. God will take even the smallest act of faith and make it grow.

Prayer: “Lord, strengthen our trust in You, and take our small seeds of faith to bear fruit for Your Kingdom.”

Your Priest,

Father Charles