The power of faith!

Luke 17:1-6

1 Jesus said to His disciples, Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come, but woe to him by or through whom they come! 2 It would be more profitable for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea than that he should cause to sin or be a snare to one of these little ones [ lowly in rank or influence]. 3 Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him. 4 And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled). 5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God). 6 And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.

Food for thought!

Two things: temptations to sin are sure to happen; this world is not heaven; but none of Jesus' disciples should be the cause of others' sinning. What Jesus says is that it is impossible to construct a world with no temptations, no trials, no hardships; there's nothing like a temptation free world, but woe to that man or women who teaches another to sin or who takes away another's innocence. Sinning is bad enough and should be avoided. But teaching others to sin, should doubly be avoided.

A story. An old man was dying. Something was obviously worrying him. At last he said what it was. "When I was a young boy," he said, "I often played at a road junction. Nearby was sign-post indicating the directions from the junction. I remember one day twisting it round in its socket, thus altering the arms and making them point in the wrong direction; and I've been wondering ever since how many travellers I sent on the wrong road."

God will not hold anyone guiltless, who, on the road of life, sends others on the wrong way.

On the contrary, we must always do our best to rescue all those who are going down the wrong path. This is why, if anyone comes to us and asks us to forgive them, don't hesitate to forgive them. When you do so, you save yourself and the person from going on the wrong road. 

Lk 17:5-6 tell us that faith is the greatest force in the world. The saying, "If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you" means that even that which looks completely impossible becomes possible, if it is approached with faith. 

Many of us have faith but we don't put it to use. Faith is a force. We have only to think of the number of scientific marvels, of the number of surgical operations, of the feats of endurance which today have been achieved and which less than fifty years ago would have been regarded as utterly impossible. If we approach a thing saying, "It can't be done," it will not; if we approach it saying, "It must be done," the chances are that it will. We must always remember that we approach no task alone, but that with us there is God and all his power.