A Mustard Seed

I have recently taken up the practice of praying the Daily Office. Often I find it hard to find the time to pray, or when I do pray it is difficult for me to find the right words to say because my mind will not stop racing. Having a fixed set of prayers and Scripture readings in front of me has really helped me to focus on the business at hand. It is also a comfort to know that I am praying the same prayers as millions of other Anglicans all over the world.

While having Evening Prayer today I came across an interesting passage during the Gospel reading. The verse that particularly struck me was Luke 17:6. Jesus says to His disciples, "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." (NRSV)

A mustard seed is something quite insignificant by human standards, but God often uses the 'foolish things of this world to confound the wise.' I think the meaning of this passage is that no matter how insignificant our faith may seem to us (or to others) God can still use that faith to accomplish great things. We as Christians are not measured by the quantity of our faith but rather by its mere presence.

In this world where we are saturated by postmodernity it is normal for us to struggle with doubts, but even the smallest grain of faith can help us to overcome them. Doubts and anxiety are part and parcel of being human, but faith is the gift God grants us through the Holy Spirit to rise above these things and become what we are meant to be.