Was That an Insult or a Compliment?

Matthew 17:14-21 (NET)

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.” Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, 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.”

     Today's reading might make you feel like you have been hanging around with that friend, coworker, or family member. You know, the one that seems to give mostly backhanded compliments. Their snarky attitude and cynicism leaves you feeling like you come up short. ("You should probably also read the story of Zacchaeus, it is inspiring for people like you.") 

     Jesus seems a bit grumpy in this reading. In the course of him saying that he will help, he highlights that the disciples have faith that could be labeled "too small." Yet, Jesus seems to smile and give one of them a pat on the shoulder saying that you all shouldn't worry. You only have to have faith that is as big as a mustard seed to move molehills. Oh wait, that is all you can move now, but if you had more faith, you could move more. It isn't just them. They can take comfort in the fact that the entire generation has a teeny tiny little bit of faith (and is tiresome, and perverse...).

     This might not be the kind of passage we want to read today. We could easily find ourselves searching for another passage from Jesus when he is in a better mood. We need encouragement and edification, not criticism.

     I do wonder, though, if we miss the point in our perception that Jesus was speaking in a certain way, with a certain tone and inflection. If we imagine him rolling his eyes, I think we miss the content of what he is saying. Jesus means for us to grasp the significance of faith, but our self-doubt means that we hear the whole exchange as though we are not enough, and that we don't have enough faith yet. What if he is reacting because an understanding of faith is so critical to God's purpose and our life (and his tone is more like a teacher wanting to get a core point across)? A less defensive reading would guide us to understand that faith is actually not measured in volume. We do have to have a belief that goes beyond a small mental yes into the tiny mustard seed territory of trusting God to be able to handle the large things. Large problems and issues do not require that our faith be larger, but that our trust in God is hard and reliable like a prolific plant that spreads and grows. Our faith needs to depend upon God's work and presence.

Almighty One, guide us to a deeper trust in you and all your ways. Empower us to see your goodness and move us out of questioning and away from fear into your embrace. We lift our worries and struggles and concerns with those that we love into your care... In deep gratitude for the lightness of your Way, we lift our prayers to you. Amen.