The apostles asked Jesus, "increase our faith." Jesus replied that were their faith the size of a tiny mustard seed that they could command trees to move and be replanted in the sea. Jesus then says that he doesn't think the apostles would thank servants "for doing what was commanded." And such is how they should be; Doing all that they have been ordered to do and satisfied that they have done these things.
However tiny the grain of the faith by which we do our duty, expecting no reward and no praise are our daily rounds of living life. The exercise of our bounden duty to G_d is set among our many smaller chores. The appointments we meet, our fidelity to family, friends, and neighbors depend upon promises, either given as vows or implied commitments. Being faithful in small things, then in all things, allows us endure. We should feel and know that the Lord presides over our going out and our coming in, but we will not always acknowledge this day to day. In the progress of our days, we may hope for, and may well experience a range of emotions: contentment, peace, a healthy sense of challenge, a burst of life-giving energy, a sustaining love, and a deserved exhaustion to close the day.
It is true that in living our lives, lamentation may come. In recent years there has developed cottage industries of grief support groups, which no doubt, do much good for some people. Telling your truth among others, who have felt a similar loss, may generate a benefit from the strength of mutual support. Sadly, we are much better at supporting loss than celebrating the simple daily gain of doing life.
In Book of Lamentations we hear of one who, "...weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks.…" Lamentation is very much a human experience. Weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth are not for hell only, but are the human expressions of loss and woe. The tone of Lamentations is very bleak. G_d is silent in the book, the degree of suffering presented appears undeserved, and the expectations for future relief are minimal at best.
St. Luke tells us, that the path from lamentation to hope again is the little seed of faith that, G_d loves completely and gives generously. Within the daily grind, or in loss we humans go on, but we look outward hoping G_d, the world, or something, will answer our pleas for recognition. Like the prophet Habakkuk we must promise, "I will stand at my watch-post, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint." The Promise is this: "the just shall live by faith." What is faith other than the suffering patience of one who has learned to wait for the appointed time while doing what was commanded: Loving G_d with whole heart and mind, and Loving neighbor as self.
Pax,
jbt
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