In today’s Gospel, the apostles say to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” It is a short prayer, but one that reveals both sincerity and need. The apostles had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and listened to His teachings, yet they felt that their faith was still small. Their request is also ours: “Lord, increase our faith.”

Jesus answers with an image that startles: “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.” The mustard seed is one of the tiniest of seeds, yet it grows into a large shrub. Jesus is not emphasizing the quantity of faith, but its quality. True faith, even if small, has the power to do great things—not because of human strength, but because of trust in God’s power.

Faith is not merely believing in doctrines; it is trusting in God’s word and acting on it. It means surrendering one’s will, relying not on our own understanding, but on the Lord’s wisdom. A person with even a mustard seed of faith lives with the conviction that God’s grace can transform the impossible into reality.

But Jesus continues with another teaching that balances this enthusiasm: the parable of the servant. After working in the field, the servant does not expect to be praised or rewarded immediately. He simply does his duty and says, “We are unworthy servants; we have done only what we ought to have done.”

This second part may seem unrelated, but it completes the meaning of faith. Faith without humility becomes pride; faith with humility becomes service. When we do good, pray, or serve others, we must not think God owes us anything. Our good works are not favors we grant God—they are responses of gratitude to His mercy.

The life of faith, then, is not about performing miracles or gaining recognition. It is about trusting God and serving Him faithfully in daily life—in ordinary tasks, in hidden sacrifices, in moments when no one applauds. Real faith bears fruit in humble obedience.

As we journey through life, let us keep this prayer on our lips:
“Lord, increase our faith.”
And may we add: “Teach us to serve You humbly, knowing that all we are and all we do come from You.”