People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: One Tiny S.E.E.D. ~ 17th Sunday after Pentecost '25 RCL Yr C

For Sunday, October 5, 2025, Readings: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 37:1-10, 2 Timothy 1:1-14,

Luke 17:5-10

The wicked surround the righteous – therefore judgment comes forth perverted….For there is still a vision for the appointed time...it will surely come…Look at the proud…their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. [Habakkuk 1:4b, 3a,c; 4]

Take delight in the Lord…Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him… [Psalm 37:4a, 5a]

…I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you...for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. [2 Timothy 1:6-7]

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." [Luke 17:5-6]

Habakkuk is irritated. He will not give up his complaint until he gets God’s answer and he does! The very descriptive language of his frustration speaks directly to our own times and the answer he gets is clear if not exactly a swift resolution. The Psalm appointed for today is a perfect follow up: Have patience, keep on track, do good, commit to and trust in God, for evildoers shall be cut off in the appointed time, wait for it.

And so while we are waiting, it is, certainly and always, the Gospel, with a little help from the 2nd letter to Timothy, that gives us our focus – the apostles, with relatable human impatience, ask Jesus to "Increase our faith!" Jesus reminds them, and us, that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed and we would be able to command whole trees to uproot themselves and be replanted in the sea. These are metaphors whose underlying meanings are worth pondering, however strangely mixed – did you stop and wonder: why would we plant a mulberry tree in the sea?

Moving on, there are many varieties of mustard seeds across the many regions of the Earth, and those Jesus speaks of are nearly as small as the period at the end of this sentence, yet they hold within themselves the ability to produce enormous trees. No magic intended here, just nature as created. But thinking of something so tiny taking such deep root and growing so large can guide our understanding of the potential in our own imperfect faith. Whether in days of seeming uprooted-ness and feeling all at sea, or in times of feeling securely well planted, we are reminded by these readings that we have all that we need within us. We aren’t called to understand how or why it all works, just to believe that it does and it will.

How great our own eternal future if we merely remember the good treasure, our holy calling, the grace that has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. How wonderful to know that when we seek to rekindle the gift of God that is within us, the fertile seeds of faith and trust have already sprouted in us with the help of the Holy Spirit.

It is also important to remember that having “true faith” doesn't mean freedom from doubt. And when the doubts creep in, don’t panic. Wanting to have faith is enough, and even wanting to want to have faith is enough. Those times are examples of having faith if seemingly less than robust to us than what we think we observe in others. We are opening ourselves for the Spirit to till the ground of our beings just by the wanting.

Accept as naturally human that in this life there are moments of distance, occasions of dark nights and gray days. Trees need pruning now and then and so do our souls. Some of those times are longer than others and it is in such times, as the Psalmist tells us, we are to be still before the LORD and wait patiently. Write a list for yourself, adding or deleting from time to time, of ways to encourage yourself to spend some time with the Sunday readings. Consider some ideas and ways of how to pray a bit more or a little more often, if only just breathing in and out with the name of Jesus on your lips, in your mind, and in your heart, perhaps you’ll remember to say a simple thank you for the food on your table at mealtimes. All the while our work of faith, present or awaited, goes on in small and ordinary ways, as in even a slightly cared-for garden. No worries about how large or small a faith seed you have. Our level of faith isn't meant to be quantified, only recognized for its power, for its sufficiency, for its enough-ness that will bring us to our spiritual fulfillment in and with God's grace and purpose, in God's appointed time. Just as watching and enjoying any planted seed grow in a windowsill pot, or a large expansive garden, one tiny seed of faith nurtured with even a single word of prayer as simple as “help,” offering caring words and actions toward others, reading a quote or paragraph or more of an inspiring source can produce Soul-filled Energy Every Day. Just by imagining it, you are planting your One Tiny S.E.E.D.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ God of Mercy, Grace, and Peace, may we allow our tiny seeds of faith to renew our right spirits, rekindle the gift of You living within us, and place our trust and hope in You.

Lord of Salvation

RESPONSE: We commit ourselves to You

~ God of Mercy, Grace, and Peace, we pray to you for the removal of evildoers and perverted judgment from the chambers of all who govern on this Planet, in this Nation, and in this Community. Bestow upon all victims of violence, poverty, bigotry, and war crimes, the fullness of your righteousness, justice, and relief. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord of Salvation