This weekend we celebrate the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The theme of our reading this weekend is Faith. It sounds so simple. We all know what faith is. It’s to trust, allegiance to duty or a person, fidelity to ones’ promise, sincerity of intentions and belief (definitions found in Webster dictionary.)
From our Scriptures Hebrews 11:1, Faith is “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” It is an act of understanding and a divinely infused virtue whereby we accept as true all that has been revealed by God through His Church. Faith is our response to follow God in answer to our call.
In our first reading Habakkuk calls out to God for help. It seems as if God isn’t paying attention. There is violence, misery and general discord among God’s people. Habakkuk is frustrated at the inability of the people’s response to do much about their situation. God reassured Habakkuk that he knows and cares for his people and in his time resolution will come. So we wait for the Lord to fulfill his promise. It is in that time of waiting we exercise our faith by trusting in God’s words and deeds.
Paul’s letter to Timothy exhorts him to “stir the flame,” the ministry he was commissioned to do. He is called to put into action the original fervor that he had when first appointed. The Gospel, the very messages of Jesus calls us to be counter cultural from the standard message of our world today. We are asked to bear the hardships of the Gospel proclamation with “the strength that comes from God.” No matter how difficult the journey of life, we know and trust in God.
In the Gospel of Luke, even the apostles as Jesus, “increase our Faith.” Jesus tells us that faith, as little or as tiny as a mustard seed, is enough, more than enough to accomplish all that we need. What truly matters is that we have faith, it can’t necessarily be measured in quantity. As disciples we are called upon to serve others without expecting anything in return. What good is there in expecting something in return for what we know we are supposed to do? God’s gift to all of us is eternal life, but you do have to be accountable for what God has asked of us.
In the “Our Father” it says: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Nowhere does it say you get your way or all you want whenever you wants something. Faith is not arbitrary, it’s God’s free gift to us on His terms and in His way. What has God called you to do? More importantly, what is your response?
