A Great Lesson on Prayer and Faith

Pritam Dangwar csc –

Readings: Deut 6: 4-13; Mt 17: 14-20

Today’s gospel presents before us a great lesson on prayer and faith. Jesus said, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.”

The Jews might have clearly understood what Jesus meant by “removing mountains”. The phrase was a Jewish idiom meaning “to remove difficulties.” The greatest difficulties in human life can be removed by faith. Prayer and faith can do anything for God. They can remove all kinds of mountains: fear, disappointment, sickness, loneliness, guilt, etc.

Such mountains can really defeat life. How can they be overcome? By prayer and faith; praying and believing even to the point of fasting. Every follower of the Lord has two strengths and two gifts to offer to the world. He has both his own strength and gifts and God’s strength and gifts. Our call is to learn to use God’s strength and gifts.