In today’s Gospel, the Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. His response was, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to uproot itself and cast itself into the sea, and it would do so.” This response would have been doubly troubling to them.

First of all, “Jesus, we asked to you increase our faith, we didn’t say that we didn’t have any. Certainly, we have faith the size of a mustard seed. You don’t have to insult us.” And secondly, no one in history has ever had the power to say to a mulberry tree, “Uproot yourself and cast yourself into the sea, and it would obey. What you are saying makes no sense to us. How could that happen?”

Jesus is telling them (us) that they have more than enough faith, but they have to try it. They need to step out in faith, and they will see its power. We want faith that will make our lives not scary. But life is scary, and we need to trust God and act in faith. We will be shocked by the results.

As to uprooting mulberry seeds and even mountains, that will take some practice. We start small and grow into greater things.