Did you notice the cover art on the bulletin? When I came across it as I was preparing this week, it just made me laugh. And I wanted to share it with you. A little faith can have a huge impact. I think that’s what Jesus wants us to understand in this metaphor of the mustard seed. Even a little faith, deployed fearlessly in love, can do great things.

A mustard seed isn’t a soft marshmallow-y kind of thing. It’s solid. Small but solid. Jesus’ words are meant to encourage the disciples by reminding them of what they already know, those solid moments of faith: Holy Scripture is full of examples of the strength of small groups of faithful people, and the power of seemingly small or insignificant people.

Remember David? David slew the giant Goliath with a slingshot, against all odds. The rock that flattened Goliath was no doubt larger than a mustard seed. But it was just one rock aimed high by one boy with solid faith. And it was enough.

Remember the Canaanite woman seeking healing for her daughter. In a mustard seed-sized moment, she summoned enough courage to get in Jesus face to remind him that even the dogs eat the crumbs from under their master’s table and so her daughter and her illness were worthy of healing. “Woman, great is your faith,” Jesus told her.

In Acts, when the first followers were known to gather in small clusters and pray and share all things in common, great numbers came to them and became followers: mustard seed-sized faith in themselves and their fellow Christians on the journey was all it took for others to see and be drawn to them. So the message of faith’s victory is consistent in the Bible. And yet, the tasks seem overwhelming. How can a mustard seed of faith meet any kind of test?

The Order of the Daughters of the King has a motto that speaks beautifully to this:

For His Sake…I am but one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

What I can do, I ought to do.

What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.

Lord, what will you have me do?

It’s a worthy question.

I belonged to an interfaith clergy group in Temecula. They met monthly and frequently invited a speaker. One month, there were two ladies from an organization that provides shelter and services to women with children. They tossed out incredible numbers: hundreds of families housed, thousands of meals served, tens of thousands of after-school snacks, bars of soap, disposable razors, Bibles, ping pong games, tutoring hours and all manner of things provided.

It was impressive…and a little bit discouraging. Driving back to the relatively small Episcopal church I was serving, I knew we could make a positive impact on the needs of the community but nowhere near like I’d just heard. I felt small. “Lord,” I asked “what will you have me do?”

Then God rescued me as God always does. That afternoon, a young man came to the doors of the church and asked if he could have some water and sleep that night under the eaves of the church. Of course I said yes. I got him the water, some fruit and snacks and invited him to use the restroom.

He told me that he had walked several miles in the last few days, how tired he was and how vulnerable he felt. He said, “but then I looked up and saw the cross [on top of the building.] I was so relieved. I knew I was close to a church and that I’d be safe there.”

That little bit of faith, that tiny mustard seed-sized faith, was all he needed. And it was reassuring to me that a place to rest, a few bottles of water and some food from our little church were all that he needed to reinforce his faith that God would provide for him and that everything was going to be okay.

Like the Daughters, like David, like the Canaanite woman, and the traveler on his way, we can all say “Lord I’m here, I’m ready. I have a mustard seed – I’m not afraid to use it. So Lord, what will you have me do?” Amen.