How Much is in Your Tank?

There was a nun who worked for a local home health care agency who was out making her rounds when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it there was a station just down the street. She walked to the station to borrow a can with enough gas to start the car and drive to the station for a fill up. The attendant regretfully told her that the only can he owned had just been loaned out, but if she would care to wait as he was sure it would be back shortly.
Since the nun was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. After looking through her car for something to carry to the station to fill with gas, she spotted a bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, she carried it to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried it back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two men walked by. One of them said to the other, “Now that is what I call faith!”

Let me ask you: How much is in your gas tank? I’m not talking about the gas tank in your car. I’m talking about the gas tank inside of us. I’m talking about the energy of our heart and soul – the place where our faith resides. Is there enough in our tanks to do what needs to be done?

In our Gospel today, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith.” This is really a cry for help because what happened prior to this statement was that Jesus issued strong instructions on how his followers should treat one another, especially the weak, the poor, the outcast, and the ones that should not be stepped on or stepped over.

The apostles felt like they were not ready to live that way of life, let alone carry it out. So, in their minds, they think they needed an increase in faith.

Jesus agrees that they need faith, but it’s not about the quantity. Jesus assures them that they already have all they need to do what he is asking them to do. They don’t need more; they just need confidence in what they already have.

Jesus then tells them a story about the mustard seed and the mulberry tree. This image is meant to reveal faith to the apostles, because the mulberry tree is uprooted from where it has always been and then planted in a new place where no one would expect it to grow. The impossible has suddenly become possible.

Jesus is trying to strengthen their confidence. He doesn’t jump to their rescue. Instead, he directs them inside and continually urges them to reconceive who they are and what they can do. He encourages them by saying not only do they have all the faith they need but also that it is by their persistent, day-in and day-out service that transforms what seems immovable.

In our world today, there are many things that seem immovable – when our tanks seem empty because of a life crisis, periods of doubt, personal tragedy, or even worldly events. When this happens, there is a serious fear that we will become lukewarm in our faith.

In our first reading, Habakkuk is complaining to God about his lack of care for what is going on in the world. That period of time was filled with political unrest. (Sound familiar?) But his complaint comes from his faith. And God answers him by saying that he will answer his prayers, but at the appropriate time. But until then, Habakkuk needs to accept and endure these hardships, as that is part of the faith journey – and it’s the same way for us.

Faith is the fuel in our lives that gives us the power and strength to overcome those things that burden us. But faith requires continual tending, and it can be extremely difficult to have and even hold onto, especially during those times of temptation, unanswered prayers, or even when we question God’s very presence in our lives. That’s why we must work tirelessly to continually build up our faith.

As St. Paul told Timothy in our second reading, faith provides us with the gift of courage, which will sustain us “with the strength that comes from God.” Faith is all about you and I being open to and responding to God’s initiating action. It’s using what we already have in our tanks. Well, how do we do that? We show up, we step up, and we step out. Let me explain.

We show up by having a relationship with God. Faith involves trusting that God knows better that we do and will provide for us better than we can on our own. But we first need to have that connection with God, and that begins by making time for prayer. I know, we’re busy people – which is why I love this quote from St. Francis de Sales: “Everyone needs a half hour of prayer each day, unless we are busy – then we need an hour.” We need to take time for prayer so we can become one with our Creator and to listen to what he is asking of us. When we show up to prayer, amazing things will happen.

We then need to step up and understand that with our tiny, little morsel of faith, we can do incredible things. Perhaps we can’t end world hunger or stop global wars, but with prayer, we can challenge and even motivate others to heal the divisions in their own lives. Maybe we can strive to do with less so that others might have more. Jesus asks us to have faith the size of a mustard seed. But with faith as solid and fruitful as that tiny little seed, when we step up, we could possibly change the world and certainly change ourselves.

Then, we need to step out by reigniting our sense of mission. We shouldn’t just focus on ourselves but work to serve others, bringing others to Christ and building up each other in faith so that it burns strong and bright.

We need to ask ourselves, “What do I have to lose?” We are called to take risks with our faith. But how? Step out and join one of the many ministries in our parish. Join the choir, get involved in our small groups, share your gifts by being a Lector or Eucharistic Minister, immerse yourselves with our many social justice activities, or volunteer for something that is outside of your comfort zone. Take a risk. The more you risk things for God, the more you’ll get what the apostles wanted: more faith.

My sisters and brothers, our faith is not a call to be idle – it’s a call to action: a call to show up, step up, and step out. Even when we feel like our tanks are empty, Jesus reminds us that we already have all that we need.

May that mustard seed of faith blossom in and around us so we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Can you get faith lessons from a fallen tree? Find out here.