CAMINANDO WITH JESUS: Having the Faith to Forgive

Brendan Murphy on October 2, 2019

Pentecost 17, Proper 22 | October 6, 2019

By the Rev. Dr. Sally French


CAMINANDO WITH JESUS is a series of reflections on the Sunday Gospel by clergy and laity from across the Diocese. 

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The apostles said to the Lord,Increase our faith! The Lord replied,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.

Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, `Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, `We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”

– Luke 17:5-10


Sometimes the gospel surprises us with words from Jesus that don’t really make any sense, and this Sunday’s story from Luke 17 is one of those surprises. The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith, only to be told that, if they had even a little bit of faith, they could uproot trees and that there is no extra credit, no special thanks for doing only what they are expected to do. The words Jesus uses, words like “slaves,” “worthless” and “commanded,” are hard words for many of us. We live in a world that we like to think of as egalitarian and inclusive even though the reality may not be. These words weren’t so shocking 2,000 years ago. They spoke to the everyday reality for many of the people Jesus met.

Why do the disciples want more faith? It’s not because they need to build great things, take down trees and change the very landscape of their world. No, this request comes from them because they’ve been asked to forgive others, to offer the gift of forgiveness to repentant sinners, as often as needed, even seven times (Luke 17:4). Forgiveness is hard, but more faith isn’t the answer. The disciples already have faith, and as followers of Jesus, forgiveness is their job. It’s not some special calling that requires extra grace, it’s not a miraculous power that can uproot trees. It’s simply what they – and all of us – are to do.

How do we know that the disciples have enough faith? The original Greek of these verses might be better translated “if you had faith (and you do).” Those disciples already have the faith they need to do the difficult work of forgiveness. The disciples had it, and so do we. Faith enough to uproot trees, move mountains and even forgive the repentant sinner. I think sometimes that forgiveness is the hardest thing we are called to do as followers of Jesus. Loving God, loving neighbor, loving ourselves, it’s all a lot easier than making peace with those who have hurt us or offended us. But as hard as it can be, it is also one of the most necessary things.

We forgive others not because we don’t care for our own selves, but because anger and pain can destroy us from within. We forgive others not because we are suddenly at peace with whatever they may have done to harm us or those we love, but because when we continue to carry the burden of their sin, it becomes ours, and we are held down by the weight of it all. When we do not forgive others, we are held back from the perfect freedom that is promised to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Unforgiveness is a stumbling block on our path as we journey closer to God.

This is not to say that we should place ourselves or others in harm’s way as part of our efforts to forgive repentant sinners. We do not have to say that we are okay with the difficult things that have happened to us, and we do not have to feel peace or trust or love towards those who have harmed us because forgiveness isn’t about feelings – it is about action. Forgiveness means choosing deliberately to be free from the sins of others. Forgiveness means choosing to open your heart to loving your neighbor who is in need; it means choosing compassion and true justice over fear, anxiety and selfishness.

Forgiveness is a gift to be shared. And like most of the best gifts, the reward to us is far greater than the cost.

The Rev. Dr. Sally French is the associate rector for formation and pastoral care at St. Philip’s, Durham.

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