Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord, Increase Our Faith – Keeping Faith Alive and Growing

Today, on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, we hear a heartfelt and timeless prayer from the apostles in the Gospel of Luke: ‘Lord, increase our faith!’ It’s a short statement, but one that carries immense spiritual power and honesty. The apostles, already walking closely with Jesus, recognized that they needed more faith. Like them, we too face moments when we feel our faith is weak and wavering — and we too must pray, ‘Lord, increase our faith.’

I remember back in high school seminary, Fr. John was a wise and prayerful mentor. One of the things he would always repeat to us seminarians was this: ‘Never stop praying for an increase of faith. When you stop asking, your faith becomes stagnant.’ That phrase has stayed with me through the years. Faith is not something we acquire once and forget about. It is a living gift, a grace from God that must be nurtured and deepened every day.

Faith is like water — it must flow, otherwise it grows stagnant. Left unattended, it dries up or becomes murky, especially in the face of life’s trials. This is why Jesus tells us that even faith the size of a mustard seed can do great things. But that seed must be cared for, nourished, and allowed to grow.

The early Church Father, St. Gregory of Nyssa, wrote, ‘To be in a state of perfection is to be constantly moving toward God.’ He is reminding us that no matter where we are in our journey, faith is always calling us forward. It never allows for standing still. What we need is not simply more information or better arguments, but a deeper personal trust in God — and that takes daily commitment.

So what must we do to increase our faith?

First, we need to pray every day. Not just with words, but from the heart. Speak to God with honesty. Tell Him where your faith feels weak. Ask Him to strengthen your belief and your trust in His will, even when you don’t understand it. Faith grows most in the moments of silence, in the whispers of daily prayer.

Second, we must frequent the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. The sacraments are living encounters with Jesus. They nourish our souls with divine grace and remind us of God’s intimate presence in our lives. Receiving the Eucharist with reverence and confessing our sins regularly keeps our faith grounded in humility and God’s mercy.

Third, we must read and meditate on Sacred Scripture. When we read the Word of God with an open heart, the Holy Spirit increases our understanding and awakens our faith. Scripture is the living Word that breathes life into our thoughts and teaches us how to trust God more deeply.

Fourth, we should serve others. Faith expresses itself in love. When we forget ourselves and reach out to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and those in need, we come to recognize Christ in them. And that recognition deepens our faith.

And finally, we must surround ourselves with a community that builds us up. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. We grow stronger in faith when we walk together with others who seek God sincerely.

So like the apostles, let each of us say today, ‘Lord, increase our faith.’ Let us echo the wisdom of Fr. John who reminded us that faith must never be left alone and stagnant. Let us follow the path of St. Gregory of Nyssa, always moving forward, always seeking God with desire.

Faith is God’s gift, but our response must be open hearts, active prayer, sacramental grace, and love in action. As we walk this journey, may our small mustard-seed faith blossom into a tree of life that gives shade and comfort to others — and glory to God.