Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck
A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 17:5-10
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, as we gather as one community of faith, we pause to give thanks and praise and glory to our LORD God—for his love that never runs out, for his grace that meets us right where we are. We thank our Father in heaven for the greatest gift: his only begotten Son, Jesus. Through Jesus—his Word made flesh—God’s love isn’t just an idea. It’s something we can receive, hold onto, let grow inside us, and share with the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we pray today, let’s become aware of Jesus’ true presence among us. He’s here—in our prayer, in the Mass, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and in the loving hearts of those around us. When we sit quietly and listen with a prayerful ear, we can hear Jesus whispering into our hearts: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall be one; one with our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit.” To follow Jesus is to say yes to our Father’s will, by walking the same path he walked: trusting the Father, serving others, and embracing humility as children of God.
Small Faith, Big God: Trust, Humility, and the Quiet Power of Obedience
In today’s Gospel from Luke, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” Maybe you’ve felt like them—overwhelmed, wondering if you’ll ever measure up, maybe even doubting. Jesus answers with what seems like an impossible image: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” He’s not talking about magic tricks or superpowers. He’s saying that real faith, even if it’s tiny, is powerful—because it’s not about how much spiritual energy you can work up, but about trusting God. Even a little genuine trust is enough, because God does the heavy lifting.
Then Jesus tells a story about a servant who, after working all day, just does what’s expected. In his world, this wasn’t shocking. It was normal. The point is about our relationship with God and our attitude when we serve him. We’re not doing God a favor by obeying, or living out our faith. We’re just doing what’s right. We don’t earn special merit or claim credit. So when we follow God’s commands, we shouldn’t be waiting for applause or looking for status. Humility is at the heart of it all.
So what’s Jesus really telling us? Trust God, even a little, and that’s enough. And remember: living out that trust—serving, forgiving, loving others—isn’t about earning points. It’s just what we’re called to do, as his followers.
The Paschal Mystery: Where Humble Faith Meets Transforming Grace
Jesus is our Teacher, our Mentor, and our Friend—the one who shows us what this looks like. The Paschal Mystery—Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension—sits at the very heart of our faith. In the Gospel, when Jesus talks about faith and humble service, he’s pointing us toward that mystery. God’s power is revealed in what looks like weakness. Salvation comes not from self-promotion but from self-giving love. Jesus embraced humility and obedience, even unto death—
and he calls us to do the same. Faith the size of a mustard seed is plenty, because the real power is God’s, shown most dramatically in the resurrection.
The New Covenant, established by Jesus at the Last Supper and fulfilled in the Paschal Mystery, is all about a new kind of relationship with God—not built on rule-following or earning favor, but on grace, forgiveness, and inner change. The servant in the story shows us that obedience isn’t about rewards, but about responding to God’s love. Under the New Covenant, our relationship with God is marked by trust, humility, and grateful service—not anxiety about measuring up.
The Freedom of Small Faith: Letting God Be Enough and Serving with Humble Gratitude
Jesus’ image of the mustard seed teaches us that God doesn’t demand perfect, heroic faith. Even the smallest, simplest trust opens the door for God to work in powerful ways—because it’s not about our strength, but God’s. Trusting God means letting go of our urge to control outcomes or prove ourselves. It means believing, even in our weakness or uncertainty, that God is faithful.
The servant’s attitude is all about humility. Jesus is clear: we aren’t owed anything by God for doing what’s right. We serve out of gratitude and love, recognizing that everything—even our ability to serve—is a gift. This humility echoes Jesus himself, “who came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). It’s the opposite of spiritual pride.
Empowered by the Spirit: Living Faithfully in Ordinary, Hidden Ways
So how do we live out our faith by following Jesus and saying yes to the Father’s will each day? The call to humble service and trusting faith isn’t something we can do by sheer willpower. The Holy Spirit, given to us in the New Covenant, empowers us to do this. The Spirit gives us faith—even mustard-seed faith—and helps us grow in humility, trust, and love. The Spirit reminds us that our value comes from being God’s beloved children, not from our achievements.
Living out these messages means showing up, day after day, with humble faith—serving, forgiving, trusting, and letting God work through us, even if nobody notices. It’s ordinary, not flashy. But that’s where real faith grows, and where Christ’s love shines through.
So through simple trust in God and the quiet work of humble service, we open our lives to the fullness of faith, letting Christ’s love shine through all we do. And we remember Jesus’ words: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you.” Go out, friends in Christ, and give thanks and praise and glory to our LORD God always. Love and serve those around you as Jesus loves us all.
Amen.
About Our Guest Blogger
Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.
I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.
My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.
