Because of Your Little Faith

 

Do everything for the glory of God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, August 12th, 2023
Texts: Deuteronomy 6:4-13; Psalm 18:2-4,47,51; Matthew 17:14-20 

We are to reflect, in today’s gospel reading, on Jesus’ response to the question asked by the apostles: "Because of your little faith.” Jesus told them that they failed because of their little faith. Put differently, because they did not have enough faith. These were the people who had left everything to follow Jesus and yet He said they had little faith. Can little faith account for leaving everything to follow Jesus Christ! How did the apostles understand the little faith? Something must have gone wrong that limited their faith. Such thing was within them. 

The problem could be that the disciples were not convinced that they could do it. This is lack of faith in themselves. This happens when there is focus on ourselves and not on God. We need to recognise that it is by God’s strength we act. The response to today’s Psalm says, “I love you, Lord, my strength.” When we know that it is by God’s strength we act, we will be able to confront anything. The Psalm says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (27:1) 

Do everything for the love of God

The problem could also be their motive. Perhaps, there was desire to exalt themselves, to ascertain if they had power. This happens when we act to satisfy our ego. In this case we act according to the flesh. St. Paul says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1Cor. 10:31).

Faith is dependent on our knowledge and love of God

The quality of our faith is dependent on our knowledge and love of God. Hence, Moses says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” This means that once we have chosen God there is no option for us to love any other god. Knowing that our God is one Lord calls us to devote our wholehearted love to Him alone. We are also to love our neighbours. 

Our love for God is to overflow to people around us. It overflows to the people by teaching them. Moses says, “And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children.” The way Moses puts it shows that sharing our faith should be a way of life. He says, “and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  

Moses also reminds us to make the words of God integral part of our life. He puts it thus: “And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” We are to keep Him in mind in good time and bad time.  

Prayer 

God our Father, we pray that You grant us increase in faith and help us to love You wholeheartedly. Amen   

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke