Daily Reflection – 11/10/2025
Sacred Scripture
And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, `I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17: 1-6)
Reflection
In the opening verses of Luke 17, Jesus offers a stark and unforgettable warning. He speaks of a millstone tied around the neck of anyone who causes another to stumble in their faith. It is a terrifying image, one that conveys the immense weight and gravity of leading someone into sin. None of us would consciously choose to bear such a burden.
Yet, how many of us carry a millstone of a different kind? It may not be visible to others, but we feel its crushing weight in our spirits. This is the millstone of a faith that no longer sustains us, a life where despair quietly overshadows hope. It is a heavy, hidden burden that leaves us feeling spiritually exhausted and disconnected. When we find ourselves in this place, we echo the plea of the apostles in this same passage: “Increase our faith!”
Jesus’ response to their request is beautiful and profound. He doesn’t offer them a complex formula or a grand miracle. Instead, He points to something small, almost insignificant: a mustard seed. He assures them that if their faith were but the size of this tiny seed, they could command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. The message is clear: the amount of faith you have is less important than your willingness to let it grow. A little faith is enough.
But how do we cultivate this growth? Jesus shows us the way is through living His words, especially His difficult call to radical forgiveness. This is often the greatest stumbling block in our spiritual lives. An unforgiving heart is the true millstone that drags us down, preventing us from being fully alive in Christ.
Our life of faith is built upon a foundational truth: just as God never tires of forgiving us, we must never tire of seeking His mercy and extending it to others. It requires great humility to ask for forgiveness, to admit our own failings. It can require even greater humility to grant it, especially when the hurt is deep. Jesus calls us not just to a second chance, but to an eighth, a seventieth, and beyond.
This call to forgive does not mean we pretend an offense wasn’t sinful or damaging. It doesn’t mean we must place ourselves back in a position to be harmed. Rather, it means we make a conscious choice not to hold another’s sin against them in a way that blocks their path to reconciliation with God and the community. It is a release, a letting go of the anger and bitterness that holds us captive.
Why is forgiveness so essential for our faith to flourish? Because to allow the mustard seed of faith to grow, it needs fertile soil. That soil is our heart. How can faith take root in a heart filled with malice? How can it grow when we spend our days nursing a grudge or criticizing others? An unforgiving spirit hardens the soil of our hearts, making it impossible for the life of God to break through. When we refuse to forgive, we deny the very love of Christ we profess to follow.
But when we find the strength, through His grace, to forgive, something miraculous happens. Our faith begins to grow. We realize we are not alone in this journey. Our personal faith, like a single mustard seed, may feel small and fragile. But we are not an isolated plant. We are part of a vast garden, a community of believers—the Church.
When your own faith feels weak, it is time to draw upon the faith of others. When you are discouraged, look to the people in your life who radiate hope. When you feel you are falling, it is time to lean on the strength of those who support you. Alone, our faith can feel impossibly small. Together, it is a mighty force.
We do not fly alone. We fly on the wings of His love, and in community, our collective shadow of love creates a better, more merciful world for all.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, you give us victory over the destructive forces of sin and harmful desires that keep us from doing your will. Give me the strength to always choose what is good and to reject what is wrong. May your love and truth rule my heart that I may give good example to others and guide those who need your wise instruction and help.”
Daily Note
As we ask the Lord for an increase in faith, we are asking him for the light that comes from faith so that we may examine our consciences appropriately, see our spiritual blind spots and look at our behavior from God’s perspective, and come, even seven times a day, to say, “Lord, have mercy on me!”
