Memorial of Saint Josaphat, bishop and martyr

 http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111212.cfm

MSF Picnic
2012

Lectionary 491

And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

Under the circumstances, the Apostles' response seems perfectly reasonable. "We're going to need a lot more faith than we have if you expect us to forgive this shifty character!"

Jesus' reply is enigmatic:

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,you would say to this mulberry tree,'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

Having a little faith is like being a little bit pregnant. Either you is or you ain't. Either you have it or you don't.

We usually think our faith grows. At least that's the experience. But Jesus says, "You have it. You're just not using it."  Sometimes he says to us what he said to Cain:

If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it,

It takes practice. Practice may not make perfect, but it does create a good habit, a habitual response. We learn to think as Jesus thinks and act as Jesus acts. If we persist in faith we might notice how our options narrow. We're not so inclined to think of ourselves first, or to suspect an ulterior motive, or to reach for the grab-bag of resentful thoughts, sarcastic remarks, and passive aggressive deeds.

We will learn to let be. We will let God be the judge of situations where we once considered ourselves the authorities. We might remember "how I used to respond" and how useless it was, and how I don't need to react that way now. 

We will take the easier, simpler route of forgiveness, which does not cost so much energy or cause so much harm to our own souls. We will learn a way of life from him for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.