Half of a Mustard Seed

The Verses Go…

He [Jesus] said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you “(Matthew 27:20).

And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.’” (Luke 17:5-6)

So Small

When visiting Israel, I saw and held a legit Holy Land mustard seed. I always knew it was small, but I did not know it was that small. I encourage you to look on Google Images, “Mustard seed hand,” to get an idea of the proportions a mustard seed is in comparison to just one hand. It is incredible. Almost unnoticeable.

This really made the parable of the mustard seed come to life for me. Especially in the Holy Land. I would look at the hills and mountains that surrounded me. I saw many a tree as well. To think that if I had enough faith, I could move a mountain or supplant a mulberry tree into the sea!

It all seemed so easy to me. The Lord had pity on me because of my “little faith.” He wanted to increase that little faith by telling the parable of the mustard seed. What wonders! From such a small amount of faith!

But what if my faith was not the size of a mustard seed?

Even Smaller

What if my faith was only half the size of a mustard seed? That would make the mustard seed so small that it would hardly be visible. For me, even though a mustard seed is small, I do not feel like I have faith that size.

I was praying on this. The conclusion that inspired me surprised me. If faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, then faith the size of half a mustard seed could move hills! Though not a mountain, hills are still a pretty impressive thing to move.

And if a mustard seed can move a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea, then with half of a mustard seed, a bush could be planted into a stream.

For both examples, though not as impressive as mountains and seas, wondrous things can still happen with faith the size of half a mustard seed.

Nonexistent

What if my faith is nonexistent? That is, it is not a mustard seed and not even half a mustard seed. It is just not there. Yet, if I truly want it, faith will be given to me. I pray with the words of the apostles who say, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). I know from the Gospel that what I ask for will be given to me. So, if I ask for an increase in faith, it shall be given to me. In Mark’s gospel, there is a man begging Jesus to relieve his son of an unclean spirit.

“…But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24)

I like to pray that prayer, “I do believe, help my unbelief,”, especially during times of sadness or anger. Particularly when my faith is a challenge. For example, I may be lacking faith in the True Presence, the Eucharist, as the Body and the Blood of Jesus. Or, I may be fearful, lacking the faith to witness to the truth.

Jesus says, “Because of your little faith…” (Matthew 27:20). Then, He goes on to speak of the mustard seed, encouraging us people of little faith. He encourages me that just a little tiny bit of faith will change the earth. Jesus uses the earth to explain what faith can do, such as moving mountains and uprooting trees. Yet, Jesus does not just mean the obvious earth of grass, sea, and sky. More importantly, Jesus is saying that faith will change the world. Hearts can change. People can be inspired. The mind has revelations. Prayers are answered. Faith is given, in turn.

Nothing Will be Impossible

Jesus says that if we have faith, nothing will be impossible for us (Matthew 27:20). The mountain of our sins will be forgiven and move away from our path toward heaven. The mulberry tree of obstacles that are in our paths, such as the seven deadly sins, lack of love, and lack of hope will be uprooted and cast into the sea, just as Pharoah’s chariots were cast into the sea when pursuing the Hebrews who were crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1).

Faith is one of the three theological virtues! For “faith, hope, and love remain” (1 Corinthians 13:13). I pray to not be afraid if my faith is small like the mustard seed—or even half a mustard seed—for I will see the wonders that God will do with that faith. And if my faith is nonexistent, then I will join you in prayer that I receive this gift; this virtue. I pray for all of this with faith the size of half a mustard seed.