If you had faith as big as a mustard seed . . .

Quite silly, really;

the notion of trees being uprooted

and planted in the sea because of faith.

Wouldn’t do anything for the environment.

The meaning of the teaching, therefore,

is clearly not in the literal;

so it must lie somewhere else.

How much faith does a person need

to successfully negotiate through life?

A mustard seed’s worth? Hardly;

with that amount we’d all be showing-off

and the oceans would be full of wasted metaphors.

No, a lump of faith as little as half a mustard seed,

or a quarter, that will be enough:

probably still too much. God

will do the rest. “Make our faith greater!”

the disciples request. “No need,” says Jesus.

“You’ve already got plenty. Enough

to do great things in my name. Enough

to serve and give and love. Enough

to tread the paths of the kingdom. Enough

to turn the world upside down. Of course,

you might want to get together.”

© Ken Rookes