Many centuries ago Jesus was speaking to his disciples.  He told them that if they had faith even as small as a mustard seed they could move mountains.  Naturally the disciples were stupefied and it is easy to understand why.  If we only need such little faith to make such wondrous things happen, why are there not more wonderful things happening in our lives?  This is a question that puzzles everyone I’m sure.  Was Jesus talking gibberish or did he mean something completely different from what we take it to be?  Let’s take the matter one step at the time.

    First of all, let’s look at the matter of Faith.  What is this faith we speak of so often?  Is it simply believing in something or someone we don’t see with our eyes?  Is it believing in the fact that God can do all things so,  He should be able to perform miracles for us on command if we ask sincerely?  Or, does faith mean that we must believe that God will provide for us regardless of our own efforts? 

    How often have we prayed with all our hearts and truly “believed” that God would answer our prayers only to find out that the answer was not forthcoming.  After years of such disappointment we probably began straying from our habits of prayer.  We started doubting the concept of God and of faith and the idea that God cares for us and listens to our pleas.  We may even have become cynical.  Many believers have walked away from the “loving God” and began taking things into their own hands continuing to pay homage to a God in ritual, (just in case he does exist) but rarely was the heart present in these prayers.

    What has happened to our world since the time of Jesus?  Well, if we read the entire Gospel story we will see that there were only a very few people who truly had faith.  All the others doubted.  Even the apostles doubted at time.  We all remember the famous “doubting” Thomas.  So, nothing special has happened over the centuries.  There have always been a small handful of true believers while the vast majority flounders.  “Why so”, we ask?  Because having faith means putting our trust in someone else but ourselves for our wants, our desires, our dreams. We want what we want and we don’t want to stand around waiting for God to show us up.

    Faith hurts!  It means that we must give up our own wills and give in to God, Ouch!  That really hurts.
    Faith is scary! It places us in a position of dependence and we don’t feel comfortable in that position.  True faith is not for the faint of heart.
Faith challenges!  Having faith means trusting that God knows best.  It means that we believe that God will provide us with the best for us despite our better judgment
   
    In short, faith means opening our hearts and minds to a God who is greater than ourselves.  It means believing that this God loves us with all his being and has our good at heart.  Can we live with that? 
                                Lorette P. Nault