Have you ever felt like your prayers were bouncing off the ceiling? Like God wasn't listening, or maybe you just weren't faithful enough? The desperate father in today's Gospel knows that feeling all too well. He brings his suffering son to Jesus' disciples first, hoping for healing, only to watch them fail completely. But here's what strikes me most about this story: the father doesn't give up. Even after disappointment, even after watching others fall short, he brings his child directly to Jesus. That's the kind of persistent love that moves mountains, and it's exactly the kind of faith Jesus wants to cultivate in each of us.
When the disciples ask Jesus why they couldn't cast out the demon, His answer cuts right to the heart of authentic faith. It wasn't about having perfect belief or never experiencing doubt; it was about the quality and direction of their trust. Jesus tells them that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, but here's the key: that tiny seed has to be planted in the right soil and directed toward the right source. The disciples had been trying to operate on their own spiritual strength rather than surrendering completely to God's power working through them. How often do we make the same mistake, trying to muscle our way through life's challenges instead of letting Jesus work through our surrendered hearts?
The beauty of mustard seed faith is that it's not about the size of your belief; it's about the size of your God. That tiny seed contains everything needed to become something magnificent, but only when it's planted and nurtured properly. Your doubts don't disqualify you from God's love. Your struggles don't make you a second-class Christian. Even your failures in faith can become fertile ground for deeper trust when you bring them honestly and humbly to Jesus. The father in today's Gospel didn't pretend to have it all figured out; he simply refused to stop seeking the One who could truly help his son.
This is the invitation Jesus extends to each of us today: bring Him your impossible situations, your deepest fears, your most stubborn problems. Don't worry about whether your faith feels strong enough; just make sure it's pointed in the right direction. When we anchor our small, sometimes wavering trust in the infinite love and power of Jesus, we discover that nothing truly is impossible for God. Your mustard seed faith, united with His limitless grace, becomes a force that can transform not only your own life but the lives of everyone around you. The question isn't whether you have enough faith; it's whether you're willing to place what faith you do have entirely in His hands, completely trusting.
Jesus, I Trust in You !!
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
