Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4
The Prophet Habakkuk, in his oracle, complains against the social abuses taking place in Judah before the invasion of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Chaldean empire came to invade the region (including Jerusalem) as an instrument of God’s punishment. The selection combines the initial lament of Habakkuk and the Lord’s response from the second chapter telling the Prophet to be patient, that the Lord is answering his plea.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Psalm 95, commonly used as the Invitatory psalm for the Divine Office, is one of rejoicing that the Lord is God and that he has brought us salvation in spite of the our forbearer’s obstinacy.
Reading II 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14
St. Paul exhorts St. Timothy to boldly proclaim what was then the controversial message that Jesus is the Christ and that the Jews and Gentiles in Timothy’s region should turn to this new belief and understanding. St. Paul reminds Timothy that he should expect difficulty and hardship as a consequence of speaking out but he (Timothy) should turn to the Holy Spirit for strength.
Gospel Lk 17:5-10
The disciples ask Jesus to show them how to increase their faith. The Lord responds to them, telling them that once they have tapped into that power (of faith) amazing things can happen. Then, almost as a caution he adds the concluding saying. The NAB footnote does a good job –“These sayings of Jesus, peculiar to Luke, which continue his response to the apostles' request to increase their faith (Luke 17:5-6), remind them that Christian disciples can make no claim on God's graciousness; in fulfilling the exacting demands of discipleship, they are only doing their duty.”
Reflection:
The Holy Scripture, especially the Gospel gives us an answer to a question we have asked and prayed for so many times. Have we not, as part of our prayer said; “Lord, please give me more faith!” I do not believe I am alone in pleading with God to give me the faith of even the least of the Saints who have gone before us.
Almost daily we are given examples of the heroic works and sacrifices made in the name of Jesus by the men and women whose canonization sets them in front of us as examples of virtue and faith. And we hear once more today the Lord tell his friends “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.” Don’t we all crave that gift from God?
Putting faith to work is one way to strengthen it. In this past week we listened to Luke’s Gospel as we were told of the Seventy (Two) disciples as they were first given instructions and sent out “as sheep among the wolves”. We were told that they came back rejoicing at the great things they were able to do in the name of Jesus. And we took that message to heart trying, in faith, to take the Good News of the Kingdom of God into our daily lives that it might work miracles as it had for those friends of Jesus.
As we hear the Lord’s words today we are steeled in our resolve. Scripture reframes our zeal and our resolve to bring God’s word to the world in words and actions. Like St. Timothy in the second reading, we are exhorted to continue to take that “uncomfortable” message to those who do not wish to hear it. We are reminded that we must boldly “stick to our guns.”
And if we do not see immediate results, we are reminded, as was the Prophet Habakkuk in the first reading, that God will answer us and support us but we need to have patience. God’s time is his own, not ours to command. Even if we do not see the immediate results we hoped for, God, through the Holy Spirit, moves forward with his plan (and our role in it).
Finally, was we come to the second part of the Gospel passage from Luke, we are reminded that if we employ our faith and all of God’s gifts and see success because of our efforts, we cannot rest on our laurels nor can we be self-congratulatory. God has given us the tools and the mission. Just because we accomplish some small part of it does not give us room for pride. There is much more to be done.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is The Husbandman that Laboureth, by Charles Joseph Stanland
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4
The Prophet Habakkuk, in his oracle, complains against the social abuses taking place in Judah before the invasion of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Chaldean empire came to invade the region (including Jerusalem) as an instrument of God’s punishment. The selection combines the initial lament of Habakkuk and the Lord’s response from the second chapter telling the Prophet to be patient, that the Lord is answering his plea.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Psalm 95, commonly used as the Invitatory psalm for the Divine Office, is one of rejoicing that the Lord is God and that he has brought us salvation in spite of the our forbearer’s obstinacy.
Reading II 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14
St. Paul exhorts St. Timothy to boldly proclaim what was then the controversial message that Jesus is the Christ and that the Jews and Gentiles in Timothy’s region should turn to this new belief and understanding. St. Paul reminds Timothy that he should expect difficulty and hardship as a consequence of speaking out but he (Timothy) should turn to the Holy Spirit for strength.
Gospel Lk 17:5-10
The disciples ask Jesus to show them how to increase their faith. The Lord responds to them, telling them that once they have tapped into that power (of faith) amazing things can happen. Then, almost as a caution he adds the concluding saying. The NAB footnote does a good job –“These sayings of Jesus, peculiar to Luke, which continue his response to the apostles' request to increase their faith (Luke 17:5-6), remind them that Christian disciples can make no claim on God's graciousness; in fulfilling the exacting demands of discipleship, they are only doing their duty.”
Reflection:
The Holy Scripture, especially the Gospel gives us an answer to a question we have asked and prayed for so many times. Have we not, as part of our prayer said; “Lord, please give me more faith!” I do not believe I am alone in pleading with God to give me the faith of even the least of the Saints who have gone before us.
Almost daily we are given examples of the heroic works and sacrifices made in the name of Jesus by the men and women whose canonization sets them in front of us as examples of virtue and faith. And we hear once more today the Lord tell his friends “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.” Don’t we all crave that gift from God?
Putting faith to work is one way to strengthen it. In this past week we listened to Luke’s Gospel as we were told of the Seventy (Two) disciples as they were first given instructions and sent out “as sheep among the wolves”. We were told that they came back rejoicing at the great things they were able to do in the name of Jesus. And we took that message to heart trying, in faith, to take the Good News of the Kingdom of God into our daily lives that it might work miracles as it had for those friends of Jesus.
As we hear the Lord’s words today we are steeled in our resolve. Scripture reframes our zeal and our resolve to bring God’s word to the world in words and actions. Like St. Timothy in the second reading, we are exhorted to continue to take that “uncomfortable” message to those who do not wish to hear it. We are reminded that we must boldly “stick to our guns.”
And if we do not see immediate results, we are reminded, as was the Prophet Habakkuk in the first reading, that God will answer us and support us but we need to have patience. God’s time is his own, not ours to command. Even if we do not see the immediate results we hoped for, God, through the Holy Spirit, moves forward with his plan (and our role in it).
Finally, was we come to the second part of the Gospel passage from Luke, we are reminded that if we employ our faith and all of God’s gifts and see success because of our efforts, we cannot rest on our laurels nor can we be self-congratulatory. God has given us the tools and the mission. Just because we accomplish some small part of it does not give us room for pride. There is much more to be done.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is The Husbandman that Laboureth, by Charles Joseph Stanland
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