Jesus continues his criticism of the Pharisees with both a didactic teaching and then highlighted with a parable.

First his disciples pose a question about increasing their faith. The undercurrent here suggests that the disciples have their doubts as to who Jesus is and the works that they have been witnessing. This is a normal human response. The disciples needed to grow in their understanding of Jesus and their own mission in relationship to him. 

The question of the disciples makes sense when they consider not only the mission of Jesus, but now must contemplate their own mission. The disciples must have understood that they were “disciples,” that is students preparing for a mission of their own. They were not expecting to spend the rest of their days following Jesus around and listening to him. At some point, and a point that they do not know, he will let them go out on their own. Of course, they did not expect the manner by which this would happen. They did not expect it to take place in such a short period of time. They also did not realize the fullness of what they would be proclaiming to the Jewish world, much less their travels to lands they have only ever heard about. 

The question – Lord, increase our faith – may also reflect that uncertainty in themselves. Any of us who have undertaken a form of a mission – be it a religious one, or anyone who worked in sales or motivational work – knows that there is this overwhelming sense of uncertainty that comes with the position. The disciples must have been riddled with doubt — not so much perhaps about Jesus, though that is possible — but of their own abilities.

Each of them could well have thought to himself, and perhaps shared with others something like this: “Jesus performs great miracles, could I? Jesus is a master teacher, could I even come close? Jesus is patient with the rudeness and spitefulness of others, especially his opponents, could I be as calm in the face of hostility? Jesus has a particular dynamism that attracts others to him, I am not that for sure.” Yes, Lord, increase my faith. 

But then Jesus turns this into a critique of expectations. The Pharisees expected special considerations for their faithfulness. They took the best seats at banquets, had places of honor in the Temple precincts and the synagogues. They also believed that they would be first in line to greet the messiah when he came. Theirs was a place of privilege. 

Jesus uses this critique of the Pharisees as a sign of warning to his disciples. 

The work of the disciples as they become the apostles forming other disciples, was going to be an arduous and challenging task. They were not to rest on laurels, nor were they to expect the privileges and honors that the Pharisees demanded for themselves. 

Jesus then uses what seems to be a harsh image: in the end, they are unprofitable servants.

We are not disciples because we need or desire to be thanked or praised for what we do. At times people do appreciate our work … we have all appreciated the ministry of a priest, deacon, or religious brother or sister. We have all benefitted from the work of lay catechists, parish secretaries, and other lay ecclesial ministers in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and parish settings. Yet, the work, though in their hands, is not theirs. I am well-aware that in all of my own work both as a lay minister and now as a priest, that I always know that I could have done more, said something better, or even done something differently. Whatever good comes from ministry is not ours – it belongs it belongs to the power of God who does his work through our inadequacy and limited faith. We all need “more faith” – a faith a faith that fully surrenders all to the reality that God accomplishes more than we can ever imagine through us, but if we make the work solely about us and not about God, we are indeed unprofitable servants.

Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.