What does it mean to be faithful? I feel like people wrestle with the idea of having enough faith all the time, myself included. What is the proper measure of faithfulness?
In the gospel appointed for this Sunday, Luke 16:1-13, Jesus says, “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” It is puzzling, until I remember the story of having faith the size of the mustard seed and remember that Jesus’ measure of faithfulness is very different than my own. Perhaps faithfulness is not something to be measured or held to a standard. Perhaps faith is something for which to be grateful, something to be shared, and something to be treasured, rather than judged as “not enough.”
If the good news of the gospel means that there is rejoicing when lost sheep are found, lost coins turn up, and lost sons come back home, maybe my standards of faithfulness are not about how often I get it “right,” but how often I return to God. Maybe it is shrewd, and even commendable to have just a little faith from time to time because it opens up opportunity to see faith and encounter God in a new way.
What a strange kingdom to call the Kingdom of God if we don’t need to be perfect to be part of it, if we don’t have to prove our worthiness again and again, or if we don’t have to meet the proper measure of some kind of standard. Instead we have a God whose faith in us never wavers, and rejoices again and again when we return. The God who hangs out with tax collectors and sinners, and welcomes us to the table too.