A bold and noble request. An understandable request that any good disciple would make. A request to which Jesus could have responded very simply and very quickly: “Sure, hold still. Poof! Voila. More faith.” Why, however, does Jesus not simply lay hands on them, and then move on with his ministry? Instead, He speaks to them of faith: “If only you had faith the size of a mustard seed...” Jesus points to the gift of faith that they already have—enough even to uproot a mulberry tree! A little faith is very powerful.
There is power in faith because faith connects us to God. If faith were simply belief system, Jesus’ words would make little sense. But, faith opens us to God Who is Light and in Whom is the power. This is why only a little is needed.
Why the unusual example of uprooting a tree to make the point, a metaphor that is ecologically de-structive? Leave the poor mulberry tree alone! A mulberry tree is particularly tenacious. We know from parish experience! The front yard hedge along 12th Street is (well, was) made of several mulberry trees. So tenacious is the mulberry tree, that we just had the hedge removed. Perhaps Jesus is telling us that we need not worry. With just a little faith—which we have!—we really, actively engage Him who meets us in any situation. Nothing can prevent our encounter with God. And so, no tenacious difficulty will have the last word. All we need is a little faith…
Yours in Christ,
From the desk of the Rector