There have been numerous occasions when I have visited parishioners and they apologized to me for their lack of faith. It has been my experience that this occurrs, especially when folks have experienced a crisis or are feeling overwhelmed. This happens, I believe, because they are feeling weak and vulnerable rather than strong and courageous. Some even feel they are being punished or bad things happen to them due to their lack of faith.
It doesn’t surprise me that the disciples were asking Jesus to "enhance their faith", since they were incapable of doing what Jesus expected of them. What he was teaching was not popular. It often contradicted society’s norms. It often called for a behavior that was radically different than what was acceptable. He challenged them to break away from tradition, put personal needs aside and serve without praise. No wonder they requested that Jesus give them more faith.
Most people are conditioned to believe that what they do is insignificant unless it renders a reward. We live in a culture that suffers from a "blue ribbon" mentality. We are obsessed with winning, receiving awards or being recognized for our accomplishments. We aspire to rating systems, award ceremonies and achievement banquets. One actor receives an Oscar at the expense of his/her colleagues. One athlete is selected as the most valuable player when his/her achievements are a tiny hair better than all others who participate. And virtually no one does anything without recognition, reimbursement or a public "thank you."
Even the church holds up folks like Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa as giants of the faith who are our role models. This is not to minimize their personal contributions, but whenever we elevate someone to positions of greatness all others feel a sense of inadequacy or unworthiness. Have you never heard someone say, "I wish I had more faith like Mother Teresa?"
Just as we want bigger houses, more expensive homes, better careers, notoriety, status, or win something, we also want more faith. Bigger is better, more is greater, winning is everything. We could all do greater things if we too had more faith. Perhaps Walmart will have it on the shelves soon. "Enhance our faith, Jesus!"
The disciples believed they needed something more. More instructions perhaps, more power. Maybe even more spirituality. None of these, however is given. Notice that Jesus did not hand out any blue ribbons or give any trophies. Nor did he make any comparisons amongst his disciples. At one point he rebuked them for arguing about who is the greatest. The disciples assume they need more faith but the faith they have is not even visible.
Jesus illustrates this with a tiny mustard seed. A mustard seed was the smallest known unit of that time. It is smaller than a grain of sand or salt. In other words it was just about invisible. His point is that faith does not have to be quantitative. Even the tiniest amount of faith can have amazing results. Jesus goes on to say that if you have a scarce amount of faith, like that of a mustard seed, you could uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea.
A mulberry tree has a tremendous root system. It is not a simple matter to uproot it. It was a common tree that often got entangled in the water systems of that day. They were a menace, nearly impossible to remove. And why would you want to plant them in the sea, even if you could? That is the point. It is preposterous to think you can. It can’t be done. It is senseless to try.
What Jesus is saying that with even a little bit of faith, wonderful things can happen. Jesus however, has an entirely different understanding of what faith is than what we think. He illustrates this with the story of the master and the servant. For the master to have faith, he would have to invite his servant to dinner. That means breaking away from tradition. That means turning society’s normal customs upside down. It means putting his personal needs aside and ultimately serving another without praise. No oscars, no trophies, no blue ribbons, just raw love.
I believe that faith happens when we (l) do the UNEXPECTED, (2) do the UNACCEPTED and (3) do the UNAPPRECIATED. Non-traditional behavior is what enables us to move tremendous obstacles. What is considered "normal and acceptable" is overcome with taking risks and doing what may not be popular. And finally, a person demonstrates real faith when they give unconditionally.
A friend of mine was sitting at a restaurant counter eating his breakfast when another man sat down next to him. He shared his story, how he had been laid off from work. He was just about broke and was trying to find work. He wasn’t sure how to feed his family that evening. My friend listened intently and when the man got up to leave he handed him $50.00. The man was totally surprised and began to cry. "No one has every done anything like this for me." My friend said that perhaps he could at least get through the day.
This is an example of the unexpected. One man helping another. No awards, no oscar winning performance. A simple act of kindness. There wouldn’t even be a tax write-off. He was one person acting with a little bit of faith.
When someone does what is not acceptable they are likely to be shunned or criticized. This is when a person has the faith to break away from tradition and act in a way that goes against culture or defies logic. Planting a mulberry tree in the sea is not logical so why should acts of faith have to make sense? Aren’t we free to use our God-given resources and talents as we choose?
Last weekend the city of New Orleans did the unacceptable. They opened the Super Dome to thousands of poor who had to leave their homes due to hurricane Georges. This is the place where the Super Bowl had been played. This is where everything is about winning, being number one. This is a place where the price of one ticket is out of reach for the common people. Ironically, because of the crisis, an arena that represents the most competitive sport in America, for a few days, was home to thousands who could not ordinarily afford to be there.
In A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Clifford and Jerie Furness tell the story about Kenneth. He won first place in a race at the Special Olympics and received a blue ribbon. Everyone was proud of him, especially his parents. Later in the day he had an opportunity to run a second race. But, when he got close to the finish line he stepped off the track and quit. "Why did you do that, Kenneth, you could have won another ribbon?" his mother said. Kenneth replied, "But, Mom, I already have a blue ribbon. Billie didn’t have one yet." What is unacceptable to some is acceptable to others.
To do something without appreciation is probably the most challenging. This is the nature of the servant, the role that the master in our story was challenged to accept. How difficult it is to humble ourselves and serve those who would ordinarily serve us. This is both unacceptable and unexpected. Jesus is teaching us that just because what we do is not appreciated by others does not mean we are overlooked by God.
Faith occurs when we are willing to care, to give, to help, to serve, without receiving anything in return. No trophies, no oscars, no awards, no certificates, even no "thank you’s ." This is blue ribbon faith.
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio