Faith is the theme for all of this Sunday’s readings. In the gospel, Jesus reminds his disciples, who ask him to increase their faith, that even a mustard seed’s-worth of faith has miraculous potential. A little faith – basic faith – goes a long way is Jesus’ point. That’s because all faith is a life-transforming faith, one that demonstrates the very presence of God moving, alive, and active in God’s people. In the Epistle, Timothy is reminded that his faith is a gift from God, who is ever faithful. It is a generational faith as Paul describes it, saying, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” We too are inheritors of a generational faith, received through the gifts of word and sacrament and passed down to us by our ancestors in our families and church family. And when at times our faith falters or we find ourselves crying, “Increase our faith,” we are reminded that our basic faith is always met by God’s great faithfulness.
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