Twenty Seventh Sunday of the Year: C: October 2, 2022

THE NEED TO PRAY FOR A DEEPER FAITH

First Reading: Habakkuk 1: 2-3 and 2: 2-4

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1: 6-8 and 13-14

Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 5-10

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk pleads with the Lord God in great distress and desperation. He is faced with political insecurity on the one hand and widespread idolatry on the other hand. The Lord God responds by promising him that He will save those who trust in Him. He gives him courage and strength to face the imminent trials. The Lord God promises that the righteous person will live by his faith. 

   *Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul urges Timothy to continue to preach and persevere in the faith he received from God. Paul instructs Timothy and us that we should never be afraid or be ashamed of bearing witness to Christ who has strengthened us by His Holy Spirit. 

"Lord, increase our faith."                                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. The Apostles realize their own lack of faith. Consequently, they request Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus gives two teachings. In the first part, Jesus explains to them about faith as small as a mustard seed. Such a faith, He says, is powerful enough to uproot a sycamore tree and plant it in the sea. Transplanting a tree in the ocean is nothing short of a  spectacular miracle and in human terms practically impossible. In the second part of the Gospel Jesus reminds us that to have faith in God is to carry out our responsibilities in life quietly and with total dedication. In His own life, Jesus puts His faith into His daily activities. As a result, He is able to feed the five thousand with five loaves and two small fish. He heals many who were affected by dreaded diseases and evil powers. He cures the blind and the deaf and even raises the dead to life. By His own examples, Jesus makes the Apostles realize what faith can accomplish in their lives. Today Jesus is inviting all of us to have faith in God in all challenging situations of life. Then we too will be able to do many mighty works in our lives and in the lives of others. Like the Apostles we need to pray for an increase of faith.

"Faith is to believe what you do not see, the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - St. Augustine

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." - St. Thomas Aquinas