Reflection on the day’s Gospel from the 17th chapter of Luke, Pope Francis made the connection between faith and service.
His comments came before praying the Angelus with the crowds of the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
«Faith, which is like a mustard seed, is a faith that isn’t superb and self-confident, doesn’t feign to be that of a great believer doing foolish things at times!» according to the Holy Father. «It’s a faith that in its humility feels a great need of God and in littleness abandons itself to Him with full trust. It’s the faith that gives us the capacity to look with hope on the ups and downs of life, which helps us to accept even defeats and sufferings, in the awareness that evil never has the last word.»
The Pope recalled Jesus’ claim in the Gospel that faith the size of a mustard seed could move a sycamore tree – a study tree with strong roots. But nothing is impossible for those who rely on God rather than themselves for strength.
«How can we know if we really have faith, that is, if our faith, though minuscule, is genuine, pure, frank?» the Pope asked. «Jesus explains it by pointing out what the measure of faith is: service.
«This attitude towards God is also reflected in the way of behaving in community: it’s reflected in the joy of being at the service of one another, finding already in this one’s recompense and not in the rewards and earnings that can derive from it.»
The Holy Father’s Full Commentary
