In recent years there has been a growing chorus of voices suggesting that we might have over done the whole self esteem thing with kids now coming to adulthood. Should anyone be looking for an antidote to excessive self esteem, this Gospel passage is definitely for you. Our faith is miniscule and we are, at best, worthless slaves. I think, though, that there might be another way of looking at this that does not require beating ourselves up.
The first thing I would suggest is that we have no need to plant mulberry trees in the sea or move mountains (referencing the better remembered version of this teaching) for that matter. That is God’s work. Secondly, since faith is itself God’s gift to us, we cannot be held responsible for how little we have. Does that mean that to ask, as the apostles did, for an increase in faith is wrong? Of course it isn’t.
Love God with your whole heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. If we are doing what we are ordered to do then there is nothing further necessary. In fact, however, we are not even capable of doing this with any consistency. Once again we are dependent on God to make up the difference.
The Christian’s self-esteem is a recognition of God’s grace at work in an individual and is not rooted in our own achievements. God has loved us first. That is the good news and all the esteem we need.
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