Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 8 Aug 2026
XVIII Week in Ordinary Time
Hab 1:12-2:4. Mt 17:14-20
Mustard Seed Faith
In today’s Gospel reading, we read about the helplessness of two persons.
First, there is a father. His son is suffering from epilepsy.
Second, there are the disciples. They try to heal the boy who is suffering from epilepsy, but they are not able to do it. The disciples’ day was filled with activities. But their faith in Jesus had become weak.
Jesus presents faith as the lesson for both of them.
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move a mountain.”
Here there are two literary elements. First, there is contrast: doing a great work with something very small. Second, there is exaggeration: no one can move a mountain. Yet Jesus says that even an impossible act can become possible.
How do we understand faith? Is faith positive self-talk? No.
Faith means firm attachment. It is holding on to God in our weakness. Faith means dependence. It is surrendering to God, knowing that power belongs to Him alone.
In today’s first reading, Habakkuk writes: “The righteous person shall live by his faith.” Paul also uses these words in his Letter to the Romans.
The Bible defines faith in this way: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).
In our helplessness, holding firmly the hands of God, and courageously opening our hands to work — this is faith.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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