Sunday Micro Retreat – October 2, 2022
As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and in the presence of God who wants to talk to you and listen to you.
Make the Sign of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is opening your heart and mind so the Word of God that you are about to read can flourish in you for God's glory. Pray that you continue to work with his grace. Let the words or your prayer flow from your mind through your heart. Try to "feel" what you are saying.
Is there anything you would like to ask God now? What graces does your heart desire? Talk to God about it.
Today, we ask for the grace of growing faith.
Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
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 ploughing 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)
The Word of God touches everyone differently. If there is anything that really stood out for you in this reading, meditate on it. Go to the depths of your heart and listen to what God is trying to say to you.
Next, let's spend some time with a couple of points that you may consider during this Sunday's Retreat:
1. Increase our faith!
First, we should answer the question of what faith is. When we understand what this word means, it will be easier to understand why we ask for our faith to be increased. Yes, we need to trust God more, but why? Is it for our own benefit?
Not exactly… Faith is not an end itself. Our faith should eventually end up in service.
Therefore ask yourself how you serve where you are: at home, at work, at school, and at your church community. By looking at your own gift of service, you can say more about your faith. Pay attention to what you think about your gift of faith in comparison to how this gift translates in your life that becomes a gift of service for others.
2. faith the size of a mustard seed
In this short statement, Jesus wants to address the reality of the faith. Very often, people focus on the “quantity of their faith” without realizing that the power is not in the amount but in the awareness of what a real faith can accomplish.
Now, think about your understanding of faith again. Are you one of the people who are looking for “quantity,” or are you one of those who can recognize the power of the reality of faith?
You may end this retreat by growing a plant from seed (an indoor or outdoor plant – whatever works for you) – watch it grow… and as you observe the change over time, review how your faith went through many stages of change.
It is good to keep a personal journal in which reflections that stood out for you are recorded. The outcome of those Sunday Micro Retreats is good material that you can talk about in your spiritual direction.
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