Jesus said, “I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go. There will be nothing that you can’t do.” Matthew 17:20
When Faith Feels Small
One of my favorite places to visit is the Herodium in Jerusalem. It is a strategic mountain, that Herod had built a fortress on the top. This mountain also allowed soldiers to protect a part of the city.
Right beside this mountain is a smaller mountain, that is shaved off. The top two thirds of the mountain have been moved. Herod removed the top of this mountain and placed it on the mountain that housed the Herodium. I remember when I saw this for the first time, the words of Jesus, from the Gospel of Matthew, came to my mind. I realized that everyone who would have heard Jesus say these words would have known what Herod had done.
What Jesus is reminding us, when our faith feels small and weak, is that if we can work together, for a common cause, we can not only move mountains, but we can change the world.
In this time of physical distancing, when so many of our routines are upended, we still have each other. May we find ways to nurture and grow our faith. May we find ways to join together with others from the church to share the rich love of God we have received. May we find ways to encourage each other, to become the people God is calling us to become.
Loving God, you have called us into life, into being. Come to us on this day, live in us, enliven us with your Spirit, encourage us when we are down. When our faith feels small and weak, remind us to lean on you and to lean on one another. Give us the courage we need and the energy we need to do all you call us to do. In the hope Jesus offers us, Amen.