More faith, please?

     This week's sermon text is Luke 17.5-10.  It is the second half of a collection of 'sayings of Jesus' as the Biblical scholars titled the section.  Why the lectionary skipped the first five verses is a mystery to me, because it seems to me that we need them to understand the last five.  Of course without the first five it makes preaching easier (for instance verse 2 when Jesus says, "It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble") and there is the argument that if this is just a collection of sayings then perhaps there isn't any connection between them.
     However, as I often do, I argue with the scholars that they are connected.  Particularly verses 3-4.  Jesus has just told the disciples that they are to forgive anyone who sins but is repentant.  Even if that same person commits the same sin seven times in one day.  While I would like to say that I have a ready supply of forgiveness, I think it would be difficult for me to do that.  I think the disciples were a little frightened by it to, for they immediately responded, "Lord, increase our faith!"  Who has the strength to do that?!?
    Although, as I ponder this forgiveness thing, I wonder...  We as Christians are really pretty good at forgiving others in comparison with forgiving ourselves.  There are a lot of jokes about "Lutheran guilt" or some I have heard regarding "Roman Catholic guilt" but there is no denying that we tend to beat ourselves up over stuff.  Sometimes carrying around guilt for a particular sin for a very long time.  And it impedes our experiencing God's grace and forgiveness.  It impedes upon our living life as God intended. 
    I think this is clear toward the end of the lesson, in verse 7, "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in...from the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table?'"  If you remember back to the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus started his ridiculous question the same way, "Who among you, having lost one sheep..."  When I read that parable my immediate response was, "not me!"  However, reading verses 7-10 I didn't have the same reaction.  I agreed with Jesus when he said in 8, "Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me...later you may eat and drink.'"
    But I wonder if Jesus is being sarcastic here.  We aren't very good at forgiving ourselves.  We aren't very good at receiving God's grace.  What if Jesus is the slave owner in verse 7.  Doesn't he bid us to come and eat at the table with him?  As equal sons and daughters of God?  When it comes to forgiveness of self, of having the faith to believe that God does actually invite us to the table as equals with Christ, clothed in his righteousness, I often find myself lacking.  Do you really want me to come eat with you?  Don't you want me to do a little more for you, so that I may be worthy God?
    God just bids us to come, sit, and dine with the Living Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In Jesus' response to the disciples' plea for more faith, I think he is telling them that they already have enough faith.  Faith comes from God, and is it not possible for God to uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea?  God has given us all the faith we need.  In that faith, and through Christ, God invites us to the table, equal co-workers, nothing owed.  What a radical gospel.