In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches about faith and forgiveness. Like the apostles our faith at times is strong but at other times we question and we doubt and so we need to ask Jesus: “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5) The apostles show us that faith is a journey, a journey along the way with Jesus. As we see and hear Jesus we are touched by his words and amazed at his healing power. At times, however, we have questions and doubts particularly as Jesus tells us He is to be a humble servant, a suffering and crucified messiah. Our first impulse is to say: “No, this is not what a messiah, the Son of God should be. So, we question, doubt, and even challenge Jesus and the ways of God as Simon Peter did. Jesus was patient with the first disciples and He is patient with us and He tries to increase our faith by showing us God’s way by His actions of service and sacrifice and through His words.
God’s way is one of mercy and forgiveness. As disciples of Jesus we are called to reflect that same forgiveness: “And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive” (Luke 17:3). At times we may find forgiveness difficult, if not impossible. Forgiveness like faith is a journey. Forgiveness may even take a lifetime since it is not a switch we can turn on and off. This journey of forgiveness begins with the experience of faith, the experience of God’s love and God’s mercy. As with walk along with Jesus and experience the mercy and love of God we can begin the path to forgiveness.