Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
SUNDAY, October 3 19 Pentecost
Luke 17:5-10. 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.
Is that so? I wonder. Was Jesus really inviting us to undo the laws of physics? That would be fairly heady stuff for many Christians. If I could uproot mulberry trees, then perhaps I could also pray myself a new car.
Or was Jesus using exaggerated imagery to make a point about examining our faith? As Luke tells the story, Jesus was teaching about unlimited forgiveness. Perhaps because they found that a demanding word, the apostles asked Jesus, “Increase our faith.”
Instead of giving them a formula for faith development, Jesus urged them to examine the faith they had. If their faith was real, its size wouldn’t matter.
How can one evaluate one’s faith? Tree throwing doesn’t sound too promising. But boldness in living does.
As you face the stresses of living, do you see in yourself the audacity that would command a tree to be uprooted? Or do you see fear, a tentative drawing back from risk? Faith gives us courage to live boldly. (1986)
PRAY for The Church in Wales and the Diocese of Llandaff
Lamentations 3:19-26 or Ps 137 and Lamentations 1:1-6 –OR– Ps 37:1-10 and Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:1-14
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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