Of mountains and molehills

Why does Jesus propose that just a little faith is enough?

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger

“Amen, I say to 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. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt 17:20).

Have you ever tried to move a mountain? Why does Jesus say with such assurance that faith makes all possible? Is he being serious? Why does he propose that just a little faith — the size of a mustard seed — is enough? He must have had something useful for us in mind, something practical, or why would he have even said it?

Recall that the context of the admonition is the healing of a boy with a demon (Mt 17:14-18), and the plea of a grieving father who has seen his son fall under the spell of some evil force (… or ideology, or cult, or identity crisis, to spend on the theme). Jesus responds to his disciples who feel powerless to help the man and his son. What had they contributed to the situation? Advice? Moral indignation? Therapy? What Jesus noticed is that their faith was lacking.

We have all known people who have struggled for years with unimaginable emotional scars, with trauma from abuse and domestic violence, and who have sought out every conceivable resource. Having exhausted all means at their disposal with great patience and hope, their desperation may finally lead them to trust in God and God alone. At that moment, miracles can happen. I know a survivor of horrific sexual abuse who says that she “fired” three psychiatrists who would not even let her to broach the subject of her religious faith — her abuse was by members of the clergy — pronouncing that beyond their competence even to take seriously. Today she finds hope and healing in the sacramental life of the Church which opens the divine life of grace that can hold us together if we take that small leap of faith.

To illustrate truths, Jesus uses Semitic hyperbole at times that may at first seem preposterous, if taken literally. One might recall the saying about the camel and the eye of a needle (Mt 19:24) to describe the uselessness of piling up only material riches. Now he describes the power of even the smallest amount of faith to remove the most impossible of obstacles in our lives, the “mountains” of fear, desperation and oppression — any form of resistance to our desire to be free of adversity.

Not that construction workers have not executed wonders of engineering genius by excavating and blasting out tunnels through megatons of granite. Yet I think it likely our Lord had even weightier projects in mind. Like recovery from addiction. Like reviving a broken family — domestic, ecclesial or even sociopolitical. Like taking the next courageous step to emerge from the awful branding and isolation of a serious disability or an experience of terrible abuse. Every bit as much of a mountain is the feeling of being buried under a huge rock, yes, even a mountain of panic and desperation from an accumulation of years of neglected self-care. Patterns of unhealthy relationships and attitudes may have led the poor soul to the depths of physical and emotional paralysis. Only a miraculous resurrection could roll away the rock, that suffocating weight of despair.

Jesus says even the tiniest seed of faith is enough to blast it all away. But faith in what? In whom? In our own power or ingenuity? Not that he would rule out a spirit of enterprise or even a sense of humor. Scriptures abound with such examples. Could mountains in our lives also be molehills we make mountains of — persons or things that we substitute for the One alone who can give us life and freedom?

One is reminded here of biblical passages where the judgment of God on wicked and destructive patterns in our lives begins to crash down upon us. “The kings of the earth, the nobles, the military officers, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves in caves and among mountain crags. They cried out to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb’ ” (Rev 6:15-16; see also Lk 23:30). Pretty scary! Yet “mountains” we face sometimes may also be fears and avoidances of our own making — as well as devices of others — set up as barriers to the intervention of divine grace. Putting off that confession, that phone call, that medical appointment to a time when we feel more “ready.” Is it fear of the unknown or the changes we might have to make in our lives, which we like to believe we are in control of?

Surely it is human to want to avoid pain and discomfort, but honesty compels us to admit that at times we may contribute to our own difficulties, even underestimating or undervaluing what God can do for us. Recall how Juan Diego tried to avoid Our Lady of Guadalupe on the mountain one day. He had to take care of his sick uncle. Rather than ascend the hill to meet her, he tried to go around it. So, Our Lady ambushed him at the bottom! His intentions were pure, yet he had no idea Mary knew his concerns. He could turn to her instead of taking it all into his own hands.

God never tires of coming to our aid if we remember to go to God as the first — not the last resort. They say there are no atheists on a sinking ship. Must it always come to that? During this holiday season many demands pile up on us like mountains. It is easy to lose sight of the Christmas message, that we have a God who comes to us and meets us where we are. The tiniest act of faith — a prayer instead of a curse — can help us see through and beyond the rush and the crush. We have it on the highest authority that a lowly act of faith may move a mountain.

 @AlbanyDiocese