Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Faith

Reading 1

HB 1:2-3; 2:2-4

How long, O LORD? I cry for help

but you do not listen!

I cry out to you, "Violence!"

but you do not intervene.

Why do you let me see ruin;

why must I look at misery?

Destruction and violence are before me;

there is strife, and clamorous discord.

Then the LORD answered me and said:

Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets,

so that one can read it readily.

For the vision still has its time,

presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;

if it delays, wait for it,

it will surely come, it will not be late.

The rash one has no integrity;

but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:

"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

as in the day of Massah in the desert,

Where your fathers tempted me;

they tested me though they had seen my works."

R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2

2 TM 1:6-8, 13-14

Beloved:

I remind you, to stir into flame

the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice

but rather of power and love and self-control. 

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;

but bear your share of hardship for the gospel

with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,

in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit

that dwells within us.

Gospel

LK 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 

The Lord replied,

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

you would say to this mulberry tree,

'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant

who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,

'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? 

Would he not rather say to him,

'Prepare something for me to eat.

Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.

You may eat and drink when I am finished'? 

Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? 

So should it be with you.

When you have done all you have been commanded,

say, 'We are unprofitable servants;

we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

Theme for reflection:  Faith

The great marvel called faith and what it can accomplish is astonishing and that is what Jesus seems to remind us with an example:

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.  (Lk. 17:6)  

In the gospel of Matthew it is a similar rendition of the same truth, but here Jesus is much more explicit and assertive in what may seem like an exaggeration:

    

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." (Matt 17:20)

Christians throughout history and even in our times have accomplished mighty things through faith in Jesus Christ.

 But, among all these accomplishments, who has moved a mountain or a mulberry tree?

We have no report about this particular miracle of faith and yet there are countless miracles of faith reported all throughout Biblical and Christian history, miracles that concerns humans and leads one to faith. It is an indication of the purpose of faith’s action and what it is supposed to accomplish.

God indeed is the one of who can accomplish the impossible, making possible even in our day, what humanly cannot be accomplished with its own brand of faith.

Jesus teaches us that the basic qualification required is faith?

Is there anything new in Jesus’ teaching on faith and the power to accomplish many things?

There are many who may qualify Jesus teaching on faith, even those who may not believe in Jesus may vouch for the need to have faith to accomplish mighty things, if not the impossible.

Yet what the others teach about faith and what Jesus teaches are two different things; both may talk about the need to have faith and yet are totally divergent in their viewpoint about the quality of faith.

What is important to note is that one is a dangerous proposition and the other is nectar for the human soul.

One leads to hell while the other leads to life, even fullness of life leading to eternity.  (cfr. Jn. 10:10)

When Jesus calls us to accomplish things in faith, he is calling his dedicated disciples to have faith in God and have the faith of God as manifested in his Son Jesus  and thus accomplish the work of God.

Whereas what others teach is to put ones faith in the self, which may accomplish many things through sheer determination and will power, maybe even good things by human standards but abominable in the sight of God.

Jesus’ teaching is meant for the insignificant and poor in spirit, who walk in the simplicity of life fully aware that faith in self and faith in the intellectual gurus of this world cannot ultimately accomplish the work of God in this world and will definitely lead to eternal damnation.  They apparently may seem good but in reality are the seeds that sow godlessness and evil.

This work of faith is not just about moving the many mountains through human action, it is also about bearing the hardship that accompanies one, as in the second reading, when they participate in the gospel of faith.  (2 Tim. 2: 8)

This faith even means that if God delays his saving action, as in the first reading, then one should not lose hope but to persevere: if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live. (Hab. 2:3b-4)

Some additional scripture verses for reflection and use:  

  

Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like hinds' feet, he makes me tread upon my high places. Hab 3:17-19

    

Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.  Rom 1:4-6

  

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants - not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness." 23 But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Rom 4:16-25

Hebrews 11:1 – 12:2  

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 

This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

    

Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Lack of Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." 19 And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." Mark 9:14-29

Reflection: Whom do you pray to? Is it right to pray to the saints when we have Jesus as our Lord and master who always lives to intercede for us?

These are questions about which many strayed ones would always make us doubt about?

They may sometimes back their arguments with selective scripture passages which suits their arguments.

Here in the gospel we have an instance in which one from among the crowd that brought his son, who was assailed by dumb spirit, to be ministered to by none other than Jesus. 

But his only immediate option was the dedicated Disciples of Christ Jesus, who couldn't handle the case and in the process Jesus had to face the battering from the crowd that had gathered to see the moment.

To join the crowds in the arguments were the more instructed scribes who may have questioned them to no ends.

When Jesus arrives on the scene he has to face the indignant crowd on account of the ineffectiveness of the disciples.

At this Jesus could have rebuked the disciples for interfering with his work and ministry and told them that to him only belongs the authority and power to save people from their sins and from the evil one.

Instead he rebukes the disciples for their inability to handle a situation on account of their lack of faith: "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me."

The statement of Jesus is a clear indication of his desire that his dedicated disciples stand equal to the task and mission that he came to accomplish in their midst.    

Prayer:  Lord, help us to live our call of disciples in the faith which you have delivered to us through your holy apostles.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Necessity of Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district. Matt 9:18-26

Reflection: One has to be either a mad man to approach someone, in order to raise a dead man or a perfectly sane man, with a faith, that communicates boldness. 

One of the qualities of faith is boldness, where there is no shame.  This boldness flows from a sound knowledge, a sure dedication to the truth and total trust in what one believes.  A boldness based on truth is self sacrificial and willing to face the ignominy of life, for the sake of others.

The ruler in today's gospel was a great example of such sacrificial love. For the sake of his daughter he was willing face the ignominy of a possible foolish request.  For how many have approached Jesus to give life to a dead person and what if his desire would not have been fulfilled or what if the crowd that he was addressing had laughed at him. Who can endure a public shame?

On the other hand we have people who are bold about many matters in the world. Some are bold enough to strip themselves, some are bold enough to tell a lie, some are bold enough to abuse their office and be corrupt, some are bold enough to take a dagger and kill, and some are bold enough to practice all types of corruption.

Yet, if one enters into the psyche of these individuals, whose boldness rests on immorality, we find a certain cowardice element at work in the long run. These are self centered cowards who live for the moment. 

The world still is in need of a faith that is not afraid to proclaim Christ, as did the ruler. This is proclamation by one’s action which is fruit of a resolute non-shrinkable solid faith.   In such faith God is glorified and not the self.

This is the kind of faith that pleases God (cfr. Hb. 11:6)

    

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.”  Heb 13:7

Prayer:  God our Father, as the wickedness in the world increases, we ask you to guide us, your children, that our faith may never grow cold in the face of hostility towards your holy name.  (cfr. Mt. 24: 12-13)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Faith and Trust

Today’s Gospel Text: And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Rise, take up your bed and go home." 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matt 9:1-8

Reflection: The world and the Church too has a lot to thank for men and women of faith. These are the people who act as saviours of the world. 

Not because they are saviors themselves, but they act as Saviours in so far as they through their unshakable and undaunted faith persevere in the world and in the church often marred by godlessness and even persecutions.  Thus they through their faith constantly invite God’s mercy on the wicked, who many a time dominate the world around them. 

The Gospel text proves such a notion of faith, when the men get a paralytic to Jesus and seeing their faith Jesus heals the paralytic, even a world paralyzed by the evil of men.   

Such is the power of faith of a Christian in the living God; that God either withholds his hand of destruction (Gen. 18: 22-33) or sustains a sinful world.

A Christian grows in faith through a dedicated life of prayer and reflection on God’s word, allowing him to minster to their hearts through this means, so that one is convinced through this daily encounter that God is real.

The Catholic Church in baptizing its infants, through the faith of the parents and the minister, along with the belief in the efficacy of the Sacrament speaks a powerful message to us on the power of faith.  Unfortunately, what we have on paper as Catholics, based on sound doctrine, is rarely a reality in daily living.

Prayer: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time forth and for evermore.” Ps 125:1-2

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Faith in Jesus

Scripture/Bible: As he entered Caper'na-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.  Matt 8:5-13

Reflection:  We all hold some job or the other, if not then we may have our own businesses. Even if we are sick or handicapped we still are able to do some work or the other.  The least we can do by way of labor, is pray.

Work either helps us grow or can make us stagnant, some shrivel up or even become worse in the labor they undertake.  

The human being creatively expresses through his daily work and may learn from it things that are good for his progress. They, more so, learn to relate with one another and their superiors and friends through their various interactions in the work place.

No matter how talented one may be, one of the chief qualities one carries and learns is the ethics of life; sound character, the aspect of charity and endurance, bearing up with those colleagues who are difficult to interact with, etc.   

All these action are made beautiful, if it begins with the creator and ends with seeking the glory of him who makes it possible for us to be perfected in our surroundings.  If only we knew how to draw from his presence the life, which is only him and give it to others according to the capacity of the vessel we are.

In the Gospel we have a beautiful example of learning from one’s work, which is then made beautiful in the holy presence of God:

The centurion has through his daily work learnt at least one thing and that is the power of human words to command and bring to fruition what it means.  At the same time we see in his interaction with Jesus, the limitation he must have seen in his own words to accomplish or help a person in distress.

How often we may have heard that we need to reach out to people who are suffering and in pain, just as Jesus did and went home carrying a guilt, because we have realized that somewhere deep down it is not possible in our hands, no matter how powerful we may be.

The faith of the centurion is also the absence of faith in himself and in  his own authority and might. It is a faith in Jesus who is able to accomplish all things beautifully and in his time.

Prayer:  Lord, help me not to be wise in my own eyes and teach me to fear you and turn away from evil.  So that It may be healing to my flesh and refreshment to my bones. (Cfr.Prov 3:7-8)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us