27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)
Scriptures: Hab. 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Ps. 94:1-2, 6-9; 2 Tim. 1:6-8,13-14; Lk. 17:5-10
A story is told about a town which produced many sculptures. Many such artists lived in that town. The village was known for glittering stones. As the years passed, the government made a highway connecting the two big cities from their village. The village turned into a city. Many sculpture artists left their old professions. They started earning money through different businesses such as hotels, restaurants, wine shops, etc. Only one family remained faithful to their profession. They sold sculptures at the roadside. They earned very less compared to their neighbours. People often made fun of them. Their loved ones suggested they switch to new jobs but remained faithful to their old profession. One day, a businessman’s eyes fell on the sculpture. He was delighted to see the sculptures. He made a deal with them to sell all their sculptures abroad for a good price. The family became rich overnight. Faith is a choice even when the road ahead seems uncertain. It applies to our spiritual life. The one who keeps his faith in God, especially in his uncertainties, reaches his destination. For God takes care of all his needs.
We have three personalities in today’s liturgy who battled in their journey of spiritual life. They found the road ahead uncertain and their going became tough. The first personality is the prophet Habakkuk. He was a contemporary of Prophet Jeremiah. He lived 600 years before Christ during the reign of King Jehoiakim, the king of Judah whose regime was corrupt (1:2-4). The Babylonian empire was on a rise. They had defeated the Assyrians and the Egyptians. They were annexing town after town of Judah. Habakkuk could see the impending defeat of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian empire. He complained to God about the persecution and injustice of the Babylonians. He tried to remind God about his promises to his forefathers that he would protect them from their enemies. He accepted his people’s sins but also reminded God that his enemies are worse than them. God reassured him that he would save those who are righteous and steadfast in the faith. The just man would live because of his faith in God.
The second personality in today’s liturgy who was called to keep faith in God was Timothy. Timothy was a close aide of St. Paul. He was trained by him. St. Paul had placed him as the head of the church of Ephesus. Timothy was weak and timid. He felt ashamed of Paul’s second imprisonment. He was also scared of his death. He faced several difficulties in his community. Timothy was surrounded by all challenges. Timothy could not see the road ahead. In such a difficult situation, St. Paul encourages him to keep his faith in Christ. He reminds him that God in his sheer love gave him baptism and the ordination to the priesthood in Christ. Faith is God’s gift in Christ. He has given to him till he returns. He needs to keep it intact. Timothy trusted in Jesus in his most difficult times, he became the faithful servant of Christ.
The third personality that was called to place their faith in God was the apostles. The apostles were elated because they were moving towards Jerusalem. They thought that Jesus would claim his kingship in Jerusalem. But when they started approaching Jerusalem, Jesus predicted his passion at the hands of elders, scribes and Pharisees. The apostles were not able to understand it. Above all, the apostles were not able to understand Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness and repentance. He was inviting them to forgive unconditionally. The apostles found the road ahead challenging and uncertain. They asked him “to increase our faith”.
Jesus reminded them that even a little faith can make wonders in their lives. He invited them to put their full trust in him. He gave them the metaphor. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you (17:6). The saying looks impossible and ridiculous. But Jesus has a special message for his disciples. The mulberry tree has a damaging and invasive root system. Its roots spread far and deep. They spread quickly. It dominates all the surroundings. It becomes difficult to plant anything nearby. The mulberry tree is compared to an unforgiving and un-repented heart. It is compared to the non-acceptance of Jesus’ passion and death. This unbelief has the power to spread far and deep. It could be uprooted only through faith even though it is small like a mustard seed. Giving forgiveness to our brothers and sisters seven times or suffering and dying on the cross for the Son of Man seems like uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea but it is not impossible for God. Jesus reminds them that it is not the greatness of their Faith, but rather the greatness of God’s power working through them that will uproot the mulberry tree.
The message of this Sunday’s liturgy is very clear. Having faith does not mean having any difficulty. Jesus had full trust in his father yet he had to go through passion and death. So also the prophet Habakkuk, Timothy and the disciples of Jesus. They chose to trust in God/Christ. Therefore, we can say faith is a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain. For God never let us go down, he is a loving and merciful God.