TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95(94); 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10)

Theme: The Pattern of Sound Faith in Our Lord Jesus

We must remind doubters, especially oppressors of the unprivileged and vulnerable, who persist in claiming ownership of this world that the Lord Himself promised through Prophet Habakkuk in today’s first reading that His mercy, justice, and equity will be given to the faithful at the right time. In our eyes, it may seem slow to come, but it will surely happen in His time.

Since no one can challenge the Creator's will, all His promises will inevitably be fulfilled in the lives and communities of His faithful who walk the path of righteousness.

While those who lay claim to this world are busy questioning the Creator’s will, seeking an empirical explanation of the prophetic promises of the Creator, and attempting to ignore the fact that the will of the Creator cannot be thwarted, St Paul is urging believers in his letter to Timothy, as in today’s second reading, to fan into flame the fruits of faith received: God’s power, God’s love, and God’s spirited self that keeps us aligned with the Lord, and keeps in wait for God’s prize.

Therefore, we must cling to the Spirit-activated gifts of faith, which keep us under the Lord’s protection, help us understand the world, empower us to overcome difficulties, enable us to see success despite failures, offer companionship in pain and distress, and assure us that the Lord’s healing, blessings, enrichment, success, and happiness will be ours.

Nevertheless, our gifts of faith do not exempt us from the battle against obstacles that hinder us as we strive to meet the Creator at the finish line. Therefore, to receive God’s rewards and blessings that will inevitably manifest in our lives in due course, and to counter the narratives of sceptics around us, we must beseech the Lord to strengthen our faith, as the apostles prayed for in today’s gospel reading. Indeed, to win our battles, our faith must persistently burn in Christ.

Therefore, we must continually reaffirm our acknowledgement of the Lord in worship, without whom we can achieve nothing. Today’s Psalmist states, “Give thanks in His presence; bow, bend low, and kneel before the LORD who made us.” Secondly, St. Paul encourages us to live according to the teachings of the gospel to overcome our fears, doubts, and challenges. Hence, we must collaborate with the Holy Spirit to cultivate a conscience that fears the Lord, is willing to love and serve others, is unashamed to beg for mercy and forgive, is prepared to wait for exaltation, and is ready to guide the slow and weak to the Lord.