Today's Message: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time C

Habakuk 1; 1-3, 2:2-4;  2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14; Luke 17: 5-10

Probably one of the most hurtful of our emotions is when we are discouraged.   It can so easily lead to losing our confidence.  It causes us to be pessimistic rather than enthusiastic.  It prevents us from seeing the good  around us and thereby creates difficulties in our relationships. This happens to all people.  Often it is just hard to be positive.

Webster gives these synonyms for ‘discourage’:  chill, deject, demoralize, dishearten, disparage, dismay, dispirit, frustrate, unnerve.

We wake up and generally start the day in a good mood hopefully thanking God for another day to receive His love and to share that love as best we can.  Then we pick up the paper or watch the morning news or see what’s on the internet and we can get overwhelmed by the negativity, the violence, the hurt, the catastrophes, the disasters, the inhumanity that is being displayed near us and throughout the world.  We think, ‘What is happening to the world’…why is there so much evil and lack of compassion for people in need?  And our bright day could easily be turned into a discouraging one.  Hopefully this hasn’t happened to any one reading this blog today.  Hopefully the good news will overcome the tragedies. 

I believe some questions to ask ourselves when this arises are:  How is my faith, right now?  Do I believe that God is with me and cares for me and for everyone right now throughout the world?  Do I believe that God has a plan for humanity and that is that each person can go to heaven forever? Do I trust God right now?  What will it take for me to trust and believe in God’s plan right now? 

The readings today encourage us to move forward in hope toward a fulfillment of God’s vision for us: Love forever with God.  The first reading from Habakkuk shows how came on the scene when the Kingdom of Israel was crumbling in fear.  The great empire of Babylon was expanding and aiming at absorbing Israel into its grasp.  Habakkuk urgently asks God how long the people are to live in fear over the impending violence and destruction that any proposed military assault will cause.  He asks if God is going to intervene and stop this.  He remembers how many times God has done this in the past…where is He now?  God answers almost immediately but not in the way the prophet wants or expects.  God will come and save but not now.  The people must be faithful to God and His law and teachings, no matter what happens.  ‘Trust God and place your total dependence on Him and His plan.’  Have faith in God.  Habakkuk’s book is only three chapters long and he shares a beautiful faith filled statement in the last verses:  “For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, though the yields of the olive fall and the terraces produce no nourishment, though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God.  God, my Lord, is my strength;; He makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3: 17-19)

The second reading today letter was actually written after both Paul and Timothy had been martyred.  It is  written by their disciples reflecting on the ministry of Paul.  Timothy and each follower of Jesus is reminded to “…stir into flame the gift of God…”  that each person has received.  Whatever our gift:  love, compassion, insight, laughter, caring, hopeful, affirmative, uplifting to others, etc…share these gifts.  The more we share the more encouraged people become.

The gospel contains the ending of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Chapter 9: 5 - 19:27) which will culminate in His death, Resurrection and Ascension.  Throughout this journey, Jesus has been teaching the challenges of being a disciple. Today, the emphasis is that His followers should not expect special attention or congratulations.  They have a mission to live and love as Jesus taught and exampled.  This is their duty obligation each day.  We can’t take a day off from loving, or caring, or forgiving.  We are to do this duty faithfully each day and then move on to tomorrow and do the same.  The disciples start off today’s reading saying that this is going to be hard and ask Jesus to “Increase our faith.”  Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit has continually filled them with gifts.  Jesus has shown them how to care, love, forgive and have compassion.  They have seen His miracles and listened to His teaching.  What they are to do now is to live their lives as a disciple, as ‘one sent’.  They are the servants, they are meant to serve.  Getting special rewards or even recognition for doing their mission is not to be expected.  No one follows Jesus in order to accumulate rewards.  The model for service is Jesus Himself.  What was His reward:  torture and death on the cross.  His service was total, even in giving His life on the cross. Living is loving, pure and simple.  How am I living this today?  Where do I need help from God to do this today? 

Living the Word has a powerful reflection today:  “April 2018 was the fiftieth anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination.  We heard his ‘I have a Dream’ speech quoted as part of the memorials honoring this anniversary.  They noted how far we’ve come in decreasing racism.  They also noted that many of us thought we’d be further along in living that dream.  Some note that it seems as though we’ve gone backwards.

   Dr. King based part of this speech on God’s vision in Isaiah about life on God’s holy mountain, where all people are welcome.  As in Habakkuk’s days, we’ve seen ruin and misery.  The Lord answers Habakkuk:  ‘Write down the vision clearly…For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint’.  Fulfillment only happens if we cooperate.  We must live in ways that stir into flame God’s vision shared through baptism.  How?  Through prayer, reflection, dialogue with others, and honestly assessing what needs to change in order to realize God’s all-inclusive vision for our world.

   Jesus makes clear that we have what we need, for faith the size of a mustard sees is all we need to live our obligation to seek and live God’s will.  God’s dream, as servants of God and members of the Body of Christ.  God’s will is to grow in holiness, ‘shown especially in justice towards those who are most vulnerable:  ‘Seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow’ (Isaiah 1:17).  The next time someone asks, ‘How are you?’ and you answer, ‘Living the dream,’ let it be ‘Living God’s dream.’  Then act to bring God’s dream to fulfillment.”

I reflect on:

•     What do I understand God’s will to be?

•     What is the one thing I can do to live God’s dream for my world more clearly?

•     Faith is a gift from God given to each person.  As with any gift the question becomes:  Do I accept I? Do I reject it? Do I ignore it? I should ask myself these questions frequently, maybe every week!

Sacred Space 2019 states:

   “I join the apostles and pray insistently, ‘Increase my faith.’  I listen with the same openness and wonder to Jesus’ encouraging reply as I look at the quality of my faith:  it’s enough for my faith to be as small as a mustard seed!

   While it seems obvious that the servants eats only once the master has been served, at the Last Supper Jesus did just the opposite:  He insisted on washing the feet of His disciples. Then He called them His friends.  I ask for the grace to have the freedom to see myself as the humble servant not seeking to be superior to His master.”