Cycle [C] 27th Sunday In Ordinary Time

 Hab. 1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk. 17:5-10

During today's First Reading, we heard the prophet Habakkuk calling out to the Lord. Around 626 B.C., Habakkuk called out to the Lord because of the violence that surrounded him. Destruction, violence, strife, contention, these had become the norm of the day. Habakkuk was frustrated because the Lord was not taking control of the situation. He complained that the Lord God would not save the people.  This sounds familiar for us too. Everywhere we come across violence and bloodshed strife, war and massacre. This generation also goes through a crisis of faith. The permanent vitality of religion has been lost, the mass of the people have become either superstitious or indifferent to religion; the youth are in open conflict with established society and with the authority of the past; people are experimenting with various techniques.

During today's Gospel Reading, we heard the apostles ask Jesus, "Increase our faith!" Jesus spoke to the Apostles about the power of faith that could move the mulberry tree.” Jesus then spoke of the slave.  Our faith increases when we grow in servitude. Because in serving others, we become more in the likeness of Jesus who served when He washed the feet of His apostles. 

Faith is knowing that no matter how many difficulties we may have, no matter how inefficient we sometimes feel, no matter how hurt and upset we become because of the very painful sufferings our loving people not able to meet the basic necessities of life we depend on God.

Faith in God leads all true believers into placing themselves in the position of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed seen in the book of Daniel. The fires of great suffering worldwide are being turned hotter each day as a place where all true believers will be thrown; but with faith none shall be burned.

Faith, hope and charity are theological virtues. "They are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. 

True faith is unselfish.  It seeks to give rather than receive.  It admits that "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done." The Bible teaches that faith is the key to everything for the Christian. By faith we come to Christ. By faith we live our Christian lives with joy and gladness. Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is the core of our Christian living.

Our faith is the key to unlock the door to eternity.

A famous Baptist evangelist once told the story of an elderly lady who was very upset by all of her real and imaginary troubles. Out of frustration her family told her, "Grandma, we’ve done all we can do for you. You’ll just have to trust God for the rest." A look of despair spread over her face as she replied, "Oh, dear, has it come to that?"

Bible is full of stories of faith. By faith, Abel offered the best offering to God. By faith, Enoch was taken to heaven without dying. By faith, Noah built an ark to save his family humanity. By faith, Abraham followed God to a land he did not inherit. By faith, Sarah gave birth well past child-bearing years. By faith, Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. By faith, Isaac blessed his lineage for their future. By faith, Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons. By faith, Moses was rescued and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. By faith, Moses lived to honor God and was rewarded. By faith, Moses led the Israelites from captivity and lead them to promised land.

So in our life too, if we cultivate the attitude of the humble servant, our faith will find solutions to all problems.

Satish