Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed
Reflection on Matthew 17:14-20
In today’s Gospel from Matthew 17:14-20, we encounter a powerful scene that both challenges and consoles us in our journey of faith. A man brings his possessed son to Jesus after the disciples were unable to heal him. Jesus responds not only with compassion by healing the boy but also with a clear message about faith.
He says, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?” These are strong words. Jesus isn’t speaking out of frustration alone—He’s revealing a spiritual truth: that the inability to believe in His power, even after witnessing His miracles, is a barrier to the fullness of what God desires to do among His people.
Later, when the disciples ask Jesus privately why they couldn’t drive out the demon, He tells them: “Because of your little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
This image of the mustard seed is striking. It’s one of the smallest seeds known in Jesus’ time, yet it grows into a large bush. Jesus isn’t asking for grand or perfect faith. He’s asking for genuine faith—small, yes, but alive, rooted, and ready to grow.
So, what is Jesus teaching us here?
First, He reminds us that faith is not just belief—it’s trust. The disciples believed in Jesus. They followed Him, they preached, they saw miracles. But in that moment, when they tried to heal the boy, their hearts wavered. Perhaps they doubted their ability, or maybe they doubted God's power working through them.
It’s the same with us. We might say we believe in God, attend Mass, pray regularly—but when we face suffering, broken relationships, sickness, or spiritual dryness, do we trust God deeply, or do we fall into fear, frustration, and helplessness?
Second, this Gospel shows that faith is meant to be lived, not stored away for emergencies. The disciples couldn’t heal the boy because their faith wasn’t active in that moment—it hadn’t been nourished through prayer, humility, and reliance on God. Jesus’s statement that “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (a verse found in some manuscripts of this passage) points to the need for a lifestyle rooted in spiritual discipline.
Prayer and fasting don’t earn us miracles—but they align our hearts with God's will. They empty us of self-reliance and open us to God’s strength. Only when we surrender our limitations can God work freely in us and through us.
Let’s also consider the father of the boy. In Mark’s version of this same story, he cries out to Jesus, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” That’s a prayer every one of us can make. God never demands perfect faith from the start—but He wants honesty and openness. Even the smallest spark of faith, when given to Him, can grow into something powerful.
This is why Jesus highlights the mustard seed. It’s not about size—it’s about potential. A small faith placed in a great God can do what seems impossible: heal wounds, reconcile relationships, overcome addictions, even move mountains of despair or doubt.
So what can we take away today?
Don’t be discouraged if your faith feels small or weak. Jesus isn’t asking for grandeur—He’s asking for trust. Nurture your faith through prayer, fasting, the Sacraments, and Scripture. Invite the Lord into your fears and uncertainties. Bring Him your mustard seed—and let Him grow it into something beautiful.
Key Takeaway:
True faith doesn’t need to be big to be powerful. Even the smallest, most imperfect faith, when placed in God’s hands, can move mountains.
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