4 September | EVERYONE
“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20
The disciples had failed that morning. The crowd was frustrated with them for their inability to cast out a young man's demon. But Jesus came from the Mount of Transfiguration, and at His presence the demonic forces trembled and fled in terror.
Later, alone, the disciples asked Him why they had not been able to cast out that evil spirit, and Jesus answered, "Because you have so little faith." And in fact, their faith was very little perhaps none at all. If someone had asked them if they believed in Jesus, the answer would have been, "Yes, of course." But faith is not a matter of words. Not everyone who says "I believe" actually believes. True faith leaves the comfortable valley of rhetoric and enters the hard terrain of action. And the disciples failed that morning because doubt kept them cornered in the fascinating world of theory.
To be an unbeliever, you do not have to say, "I do not believe." He who doubts in the face of divine testimony, by doubting alone, denies his faith. If we had a living faith, even if it were as small as a mustard seed, we would revolutionize the world and the forces of the enemy would tremble.
On one occasion the disciples said to the Master, "Lord, increase our faith." How does faith grow? Exercising it. He who believes now, will believe more later. He who trusts now, will trust more tomorrow. Faith grows as everything in life grows. First a seed, then a weak plant that matures becomes strong and produces fruit. The secret is to stay close to God, to walk with Him, and to live an experience of daily and constant communion with Him.
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Texts such as the one from today should not lead us to confusion. Faith is not something we create; it is God who gives it to us. It is not faith that produces miracles; again, it is God who does them. You stay united with Him so that He will give you everything: your faith and even the capacity of "moving mountains from here to there" if that is what you need. Sing "Nothing Will Be Impossible" (if possible, with your family).