Often, as a spiritual practice, I write poems that compliment the weekly lectionary readings. This poem is connected to my recent sermon (found here) “Faith and Forgiveness.” Last week I sat on my porch, looked out at trees that are still scattered all around my property from Hurricane Michael, and I pondered the lectionary text.

Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, `Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, `We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”

I realized that anger often becomes an addiction that people rely on to cope with life’s circumstances. The Gospel lesson speaks to increasing our faith so we can forgive and let go of the anger we harbor. This poem speaks to that struggle because it points people to forgiveness at the Lord’s table.