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<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>If we were to amplify the meaning of verse
six in our gospel reading and include the best sense of Jesus' overall teaching
in the gospels, it would come out something like this:</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4><EM>"It is not a matter of needing
<U>more</U> faith, it is a matter of having <U>correct</U> faith. Place
your trust in God's ability not your own. If God wanted a tree or a
mountain to jump into the sea -- it would jump into the sea! Nothing is
impossible with God. Faith is not something within your folio of skills
and abilities that you need more of</EM> <EM>-- faith is trusting God's
ability."</EM></FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>The genuine life of faith consists of
trusting God's ability. Our prayers in the face of tremendous burdens are our
attempt to direct God's ability to the problem and trust God for the
outcome. It is not so much, <EM>"God give me more faith," </EM>as it is
<EM>"God help me to trust you in this!"</EM></FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>The faith that is enough is faith that
trusts in God's ability.</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A
href="http://www.lectionarysermons.com/Oct0498.html"><FONT color=#000000
size=4>http://www.lectionarysermons.com/Oct0498.html</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>John Jewell, 1998</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #663300; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000000 size=4 face="Times New Roman">Once upon a time it was a mother’s
fiftieth birthday (oh, horror of horrors!). Her children who loved her very much
were determined to make the birthday party truly spectacular. The rented a hall,
hired an orchestra, invited a huge crowd, and ordered dinner from the best
caterer in the neighborhood. Each one of them presented a little speech about
how wonderful their mother was. So hard did they work to make the party a
complete success that they wore themselves and bickered through the whole
evening. </FONT></SPAN></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #663300; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000000 size=4 face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #663300; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000000 size=4 face="Times New Roman">Each one tried to outdo the others
in professing love for their wonderful mother. The mother cried through
the whole party she was so happy. Well, said her husband, after it was all over,
now you know how much your children love you. Oh, she said, with a sigh, I knew
that all along. They didn’t have to prove it to me. I’m very grateful to them.
Still, wouldn’t it have been much nicer if was only you and me and them sitting
around a table and enjoying ourselves and the love we all have for one
another.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></SMALL>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A href="http://www.agreeley.com/hom10/oct03.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.agreeley.com/hom10/oct03.htm</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>Andrew M. Greeley, 1998</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>Luke has combined a Q saying concerning
mustard seed faith (see Matthew 17:20) with Mark's tradition concerning the fig
tree and prayer. Mark's story dramatizes Jesus' conflict with the Jerusalem
Temple and the authorities who run it. <BR><></FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>May I digress for a word of personal
testimony? Though raised in the church-centered Bible Belt, I did not grow up in
church. When I was twelve, I spent a week in the hospital with a hip injury. I
received two visits, one from my aunt and uncle's part-time pastor and one from
a church youth group. (The youth group brought a cutely packaged soap and
washcloth.) Just a few years later, when I could embrace my faith, I remembered
both of those visits. <I>That's the kind of thing Christians
do.</I><BR><BR>Unfortunately, our culture has acquired a taste for spectacular
spirituality. By the grace of God, mustard seed faith and ordinary discipleship
more often suffice.</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=10/3/2010"><FONT
size=4>http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=10/3/2010</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>Greg Carey</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>The twelve (“the apostles”, v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=Luke+17%3A5"><FONT
size=4>5</FONT></A><FONT size=4>) now speak to him, asking him to give them
enough faith to remain faithful. (The “mustard seed”, v. </FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Click here to read the text'; return true"
onmouseout="window.status=' '; return true"
href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=Luke+17%3A6"><FONT
size=4>6</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, is very small. The “mulberry tree” is large
with an extensive root system, making it hard to uproot. It would not normally
take root in the sea.) Jesus tells them that with genuine faith, however small,
anything is possible. <EM>Quality</EM> of faith matters more than
<EM>quantity</EM>.</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr27m.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr27m.shtml</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam </FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4><EM>Verses 1-6</EM>: These sayings are found
in a different sequence and in different settings in Mark 9:42; Matthew 17:20;
18:6-7, 15. </FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr27l.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr27l.shtml</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=4><SMALL>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam </FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></SMALL></DIV></SMALL></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT
size=4></FONT></SMALL></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT size=4>Then comes verse
10. We are so used to hearing it that it is hard to appreciate its effect. It
turns the prejudice back on the hearer: so you, when you have done all you
needed to do, don’t make special claims! You have done only what ought to have
been expected!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>The sudden shift would have been unsettling,
shocking. There we were enjoying the profound, shared insights of the movers and
shakers, and now we are being reduced to the status of slaves! It is not unlike
the tension created in Colossians and Ephesians in the passage which affirms
slavery. It includes the stark reminder that masters will be called to give
account for themselves: they have a master! So the story works by subverting the
self satisfaction of the superiors. It brings everyone down to the same level.
It deconstructs hierarchy or it can.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>It debunks the idea that we achieve value by
achieving the good, as though we deserve a bonus for being decent, caring human
beings. It does not let us play the game. We can’t claim: you ought to love me,
because look at how good I am! Look at what I have done! The passage is probably
deliberately offensive in flooring aspirations to human worth based on
achievement capital. It is annoying and frustrating, and even seems mean. It
gives us no credit.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>We are surrounded by many systems and structures of
violence. Sometimes like the hearers of this story we find solidarity in our
superiority and wisdom about our preferred order. Jesus crashes our pretensions
to the ground and, if we make it, we find ourselves reaching out and touching
the hands of all whom terror violates, whether in the barbarism of bombings
timed for maximum viewing on the TV screen or in the creeping disadvantage of
marginalised groups, victims of corruption and economic exploitation. Seeds of
hope and change are scattered here and there. Mountains wait to be moved. The
world does not need prized achievements so much as an assertion of humanity, of
being what are made to be and reflecting in that the true image and glory of
God, which is its own reward.</FONT></DIV></SMALL></FONT></FONT>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><A
href="http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/LkPentecost19.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/LkPentecost19.htm</FONT></A></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL></SMALL></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SMALL><FONT size=4>William Loader</FONT></SMALL></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL><FONT size=4>- - - -
-</FONT></SMALL></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SMALL></SMALL></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>