6 October 2025, Riga, Latvia: Archbishop Kārlis Žols of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Worldwide preaches during opening worship service at the Lutheran World Federation European Church Leadership Consultation taking place in Riga, Latvia, gathering some 80 church leaders from Central Western Europe, Central Eastern Europe, and the Nordic Region, under the theme Embodying hope, making the difference. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
Most Revd Kārlis Žols, Archbishop, Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Worldwide; preached at the Opening Service of the Lutheran World Federation European Church Leadership Consultation at St.John’s Church, Rīga.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. “Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Lk. 17, 5-10)
The disciples’ request to “increase our faith” echoes in our hearts as we navigate the complexities of the life of the Church today and our personal journeys of faith.
In this Gospel story Jesus assures his disciples that faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot trees and plant them in the sea. Here we see the paradoxical power of faith—its seemingly insignificant size harbouring immense potential.
As Lutherans we remember Martin Luther, who with his whole life proclaimed that faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. Today we expand this proclamation by Martin Luther that the willingness to follow Christ transforms our faith into action. As Christians, we are called to embody this living faith, daring to trust God’s promises in our decisions and actions in our time, in our specific situations. That is a responsible, contextual, incarnate christian faith in our times.
A well–known theologian of our time, Joanna Macy writes: “The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe.” In our faith, in our being followers of Christ, as we embrace the humility and vulnerability of our call, our hearts expand to encompass God’s creation and His will. Thus we find true fulfilment and the purpose of being the Church, reflecting the heart of Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
Another theologian, contemplative and author, Cynthia Bourgeault speaks of this mystery, emphasising that faith involves seeing with the heart. She writes about the “eye of the heart,” where faith transcends intellectual understanding and becomes an embodied experience of divine love and presence.
In this context, faith is a journey into the unknown, trusting in God’s invisible grace working through us. It is an invitation to perceive the interconnectedness of all things, urging us to embrace a holistic vision that encompasses both spiritual and physical realms. This call invites a model of leadership that is empowering, and rooted in compassion.
Faith is about embodying Christ’s love in action, nurturing communities where everyone’s gifts are recognised and valued. It is about fostering relationships that reflect God’s kingdom, where power in our Church structures is also shared, and dignity is upheld for all, where we experience and live the new creation in Christ, as the Epistle to the Galatians states: “where there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female; for all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3. 28).
We are called to weave these threads of faith, justice, and stewardship into our ministry. Our Churches, our parishes and we ourselves as disciples of Christ should inspire and cultivate communities that embody the breadth of God’s love, reflecting a faith that is active in the world and responsive to its needs.
Let us commit to a courage that is guided by the Spirit of Christ in finding new ways to live our call! May our faith be embodied, serving with joy and humility, and caring deeply for all of God’s creation!
Let us together embrace this call, sowing mustard seeds of faith that grow into living expressions of God’s kingdom.
We know the famous quote of Martin Luther: “Here I stand; I can do no other.” May we, too, stand firm in our convictions, guided and motivated by faith, hope and love. Let us inspire faith through our actions and invite others into the transformative journey of following Christ in a living, responsible, contextual, incarnate christian faith that also addresses the realities of our time!
