Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 / 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14 / Luke 17:5-10
Our modern lifestyle is filled with many instant benefits.
A lot of things are done fast and quickly, and so instant results are expected.
And so, there are instant noodles, instant coffee and tea, and a variety of instant food and drinks.
And with money transfers, there is no more waiting for one or two days for cheques to be cleared in order to receive money from the other party.
With ibanking apps, money transfers are done over the phone, and money can be sent and received instantly.
So, what is important is speed, it is about how fast and how quickly things can be done.
Even internet speeds have risen from 100 megabytes per second, which was not that long ago, to 10 gigabytes per second.
In the world, time is money, and so the world demands efficiency, effectiveness and productivity, and for results to be delivered quickly and even instantly.
And with the world moving so fast, so quickly and even getting results instantly, we have become impatient, and we can't seem to wait anymore.
And when we come to Church, we may also expect things to be done fast, and things to change quickly.
So, even when we pray, we expect our prayers to be answered quickly and even instantly.
Maybe that was what the prophet Habakkuk was complaining about in the 1st reading.
He said this to the Lord: How long, Lord, am I to cry for help when you will not listen, to cry “oppression” in your ear and you will not save?
And then the Lord answered: Eager for its own fulfillment, justice does not deceive. If it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, and without fail.
So, God will answer, in His time and in His way, and we just have to wait.
In the gospel, the apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith.”
In their minds, faith is about size, so it can be increased.
It can also be about speed, so that with faith, the apostles can expect God to answer their prayers quickly and even instantly.
Jesus gave them this reply: Were your faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted, and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.
That is rather amazing as a mulberry tree has deep roots and grows up to 25 meters.
The tiny mustard seed is almost nothing compared to the tall and mighty mulberry tree.
A tiny mustard seed of faith may not move a mighty mulberry tree instantly.
It may need many mustard seeds of faith before mulberry trees will move.
So, it comes down to praying and waiting with faith.
Each prayer is like a mustard seed offered to the Lord.
And when a faith community prays together, then many mustard seeds are put into the hands of the Lord.
And in His time and in His way, the Lord will move the mulberry trees.
Yes, the mulberry trees of injustice, outrage and violence will be uprooted to make way for peace and justice, for faithfulness and salvation.
So let us pray and wait with faith for the Lord.
And the Lord will hear our tiny mustard seeds of prayer and grant us His healing love.