27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

1st Reading             Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4

Psalm                        95:1-2, 6-7abc, 7d-9 (R. 7d, 8a)

R://"O that you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts"

2nd Reading           2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14

Gospel                      Luke 17:5-10

JUST WAIT

Peace and Goodness, Friends! Today is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), and it is the 1st Sunday of October, the month of the Holy Rosary. In this month, we shall all the more seek Mary's intercession. We also unite with the Holy Father, Leo XIV, in praying for unity and respect for all people of different religious expressions and ideologies.

The first reading for today is from Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4. We barely read from this book. Habakkuk is actually one of the 12 minor prophets. He prophesied close to the start of the Babylonian uprising, which is around 10 years prior to the first siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, around 597 BC. The implication is that he may have experienced some upheavals and threats of Babylon. This begs the question: "When danger looms, when threats are foreseen, what do you do?" The instinct is to assume that human strength can help. Here, we have the Babylonians, a mighty and formidable force, rising against Judah, a relatively smaller nation. What Judah will do is to CRY out to the Lord. This is an external oppression. 

They also CRY because of the injustices within the system. There are oppressions of the poor internally.

Two issues are at stake. The first is being externally threatened, and the second is to be internally oppressed. Who would you run to? The only person to seek help from is GOD. This is expressed in the CRY of Habakkuk in the first reading. However, there is a problem. As Habakkuk is seeking the Lord's help, he accuses God of some things. Habakkuk accuses God of not LISTENING to him and not INTERVENING in his issue. That heightens the problem; that the only person you rely on is not listening to you is also a problem. God responded after Habakkuk's second complaint (1:12-17). The response is the second part of the first reading of today. 

God told Habakkuk to write down a vision. Why write? Writing is proof or evidence of an assertion. God promised an end to the threats and dangers. The vision concerns the victory of God over evil. Indeed, "Evil will not prevail". The oppression and fears will end. Another reason why it is written is that it cannot be changed. What God says He will do, He will do. This should be the more reason why faith and trust should be built. 

Even if the promise delays, the attitude of the expectant is to WAIT. Wait because the vision cannot be altered as it is written and published. Waiting in that context is to have FAITH. Therefore, when evil seems to prevail,  when powers suppress, trust in the written vision of God. Just WAIT. 

The Gospel is from Luke 17:5-10. It is also wrapped in the theme of FAITH. This is clear in the demand of the Apostles, thus, "Increase, our Faith". It is, in a sense, an appeal to make larger/ enlarge our faith. This is a good request. However, this also begs the question: "Do you have a faith to be enlarged?" To increase will mean that something is being built upon an already existing one. Do I have the little? Enlargement starts from somewhere; it starts from possessing the little. A little can do a lot. 

Jesus compares the little faith to a mustard seed. This is not the first time Jesus is using the mustard seed to illustrate a point. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Lk. 13:18-19). The audience of Luke is very familiar with that imagery. 

What Jesus stresses is the quality of its littleness. He relates this littleness to the littleness of the faith that is required for an increase. The implication is that as you ask for an increase, be aware that even the little faith you have can do a lot, the unimaginable. A little waiting, a little faith can set free. Therefore, ensure that you have something to be built upon. Pray for FAITH. 

Why ask for an increase? Remember that in Luke's Gospel, Jesus is moving resolutely to Jerusalem, and he would be killed. In fact, we are reading from Luke 17. In Luke 19, Jesus will be in Jerusalem. He will leave soon. In the heart of the Apostles, there is trouble, turbulence, and sadness. They need to be firmly rooted again and again to stand the looming troubles. When troubles seem to disturb, when tribulations draw closer, when oppression is near, rely on your faith in God. These troubles may come from within or without. Just WAIT.

Pax et Bonum