Homily: 13th Week of Ordinary Time - Tuesday - O you of little faith

A number of times in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus criticizes his disciples for having little faith.  When Peter began to sink after the Lord called him to walk on the water, Jesus says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  When the disciples misunderstood his teaching about the trickery of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he connected their lack of faith with a lack of understanding.  When they asked why they failed at driving a demon out of a little boy, he explained that it was because of their lack of faith, and that if they had faith even the size of a mustard seed they would have been successful.  Elsewhere, Jesus connects a lack of faith with a lack of trust in God’s providence.

In today’s Gospel they were terrified, they were filled with anxiety because of their lack of faith.

The disciples had witnessed Jesus’ many miracles, they had spent time with him, prayed with him, heard him teach.  Yet, they are often found to be stubborn and unbelieving. 

Yet, we know, from reading the book of Acts and our Church history that thousands and thousands were converted through their works, through their witness.  Just a few years after their terror and lack of faith on the Sea of Galilee, they would be the ones performing miracles and converting the nations.  They went from men of little faith, to men of great faith. 

What changed?  Well, for one, they saw the Lord crucified and die, and then rise three days later.  The Gospels make it clear that they fail to understand who Jesus is until they understand the cross, that Jesus didn’t come to make them powerful or popular or rich in the eyes of the world.  He didn’t come to make all their troubles go away.  Rather, the path of the Christian faith leads us right through life’s storms, trusting in God’s presence with us, trusting that he does give us the strength to bear witness to the truth of His Son despite persecution and the sword. 

May our little faith be transformed into great faith, may our little witness be transformed into great witness, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.