Fr Marco Lazzaron
n the verses that precede today’s Gospel Jesus speaks of forgiveness: always, without limits, without keeping track of what we have suffered: “How many times should I forgive my brother who wrongs me? Seventy times seven”. How is it possible to live this way? How is it even possible to think of trying? And the apostles, faced with this immense mountain ask the only thing that makes sense: “Increase our faith!”
But what does faith mean to us? Is it something intellectual, an adherence to a doctrine, a deep knowledge of dogmas, formulas, and teachings? Is it belonging to a church structure? Going to Mass on Sundays?
Jesus surprises us in this Gospel passage: He uses a disarming comparison—faith is like a mustard seed, something incredibly small. Perhaps deep down we wish for something strong, solid, imposing, something visible to us and to everyone, every day of our lives. But instead, it all begins with a mustard seed: it begins in and with our weakness, in our fragility. It begins with something that must die.
Faith is a relationship with a person—a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. It is being with Him. It is an act of trust, of surrender to the Lord. If we trust Him, we can attempt to live love as He did: giving our life so that others may have it in abundance.
But to live a relationship, we must nurture it, find ways to be with Him—not just for one hour a week by forcing ourselves to go to Sunday Mass—but by living our daily lives with Him. Faith is a bit like living on the ridge of a mountain, the frontier between our weakness and God’s immensity. But walking on a ridge—though risky—lets you see the whole landscape from above, from a different perspective, with horizons that stretch into infinity.
We must keep trusting that there is Someone who helps us walk along this ridge, who gives us the strength to keep going—maybe stumbling at times, but continuing on despite everything, without relying too much on our own strength.
In Mark 9, a father has a sick son. He asks the disciples to heal him, but they fail. He is discouraged when he meets Jesus and says: “If you can, do something!” And Jesus replies: “Don’t say ‘if you can’. Everything is possible for the one who has faith.” In the end, the father surrenders and responds: “I believe, but help my unbelief” (help my little faith”).
Life Reflection
– What does having faith mean to us? Actions, intellect, adherence, heart, relationship…
– “I believe, but help my unbelief…” How many opportunities do I have to live this out in my daily life?