Sunday Scripture Readings: Studies and Meditations, October 3

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Gospel Reading: Luke 17:5-10

EXPLANATION: The apostles in this Reading seem to ask rather abruptly, “Increase our faith!” The context, however, is the passage immediately preceding this Reading, Luke 17: 1-4. In those passages, Jesus gives two challenging teachings about not lending even the least bit of scandal to impressionable disciples (the “little ones”), and by stressing the necessity of forgiveness without limit. The apostles, overwhelmed by the demands of these humanly impossible requirements, ask Jesus for more faith thinking, apparently, that more is better; in terms of quantity rather than quality.

The Gospel Reading, as we will hear it this Sunday:

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
The Lord replied,
"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.

“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded,
say, ‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

 

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From the Navarre Bible Commentary (with RSV-CE text):

The Power of Faith
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[5]* The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith! *

**5. **“Increase our faith!”: a good ejaculatory prayer for every Christian. “Omnia possibilia sunt credenti”. Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ The words are Christ’s. How is it that you don’t say to Him with the Apostles: `“adauge nobis fidem”! increase my faith!’?" (St. Josemaria Escriva, “The Way”, 588).

[6] And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.

6. “I’m not one for miracles. I have told you that in the Holy Gospel I can find more than enough to confirm my faith. But I can’t help pitying those Christians–pious people, `apostles’ many of them—who smile at the idea of extraordinary ways, of supernatural events. I feel the urge to tell them: Yes, this is still the age of miracles: we too would work them if we had faith!” (St. Josemaria Escriva,“The Way”, 583).

Humble Service
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[7] “Will any of you, who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down at table'? [8] Will he not rather say to him, Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink’? [9] Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? [10] So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
**
7-10.** Jesus is not approving this master’s abusive and arbitrary behavior: He is using an example very familiar to His audience to show the attitude a person should have towards his Creator: everything, from our very existence to the eternal happiness promised us, is one huge gift from God. Man is always in debt to God; no matter what service he renders Him he can never adequately repay the gifts God has given him. There is no sense in a creature adopting a proud attitude towards God. What Jesus teaches us here we see being put into practice by our Lady, who replied to God’s messenger (the Archangel Gabriel), “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Luke 1:38).

 

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Douay-Rheims Version with Haydock Commentary, 1859 edition

5 And the apostles said to the Lord; Increase our faith.
**
Ver. 5.** Increase our faith. The disciples having heard our Saviour inculcating maxims hard to flesh and blood, such as avoiding scandal, and forgiving our enemies, humbly beg their faith may be increased, that they may be able to comply with these maxims; for they had heard Christ say, that every thing was possible to him that believed. (Theophylactus) — Christ compares faith to a grain of mustard seed; because, though the grain be small, it is nevertheless stronger than most herbs. (St. Chrysostom)

6 *And the Lord said; If you had faith like to a grain of mustard-seed, you might say to this mulberry-tree; Be thou rooted up, and be transplanted into the sea, and it shall obey you.

Ver. 6. To this mulberry-tree. In St. Matthew, (xvii. 19.) we read, to this mountain. Christ might say both at different times. (Witham)

7 But which of you having a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, will say to him when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to table:

**Ver. 7. ** “The design and end of this parable is to shew that, rigorously speaking, we are useless servants with regard to God. This sovereign Master has a right to exact of us every kind of service, and to make us apply ourselves to any task he may think proper, without our having any reason to complain either of the difficulty, trouble, or length of our labours; we are entirely his, and he is master of our persons, time, and talents. We hold of him whatever we possess, and woe to us if we abuse his trust, by applying our talents to any use contrary to his designs. But though he be Lord and Master, he leaves our liberty entire. If he produces in us holy desires, if he works in us meritorious actions, gives us virtuous inclinations and supernatural gifts, he sets to our account the good use we make of them; and in crowning our merits, he crowns his own gifts.” (St. Augustine, lib. ix. Confes. and Serm. 131.) (Calmet)

8 And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant, because he did the things which he commanded him?

10 I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which we ought to do.

**Ver. 10. Unprofitable servants. Because our service is of no profit to our Master; and he justly claims it as our bounden duty. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us; for he is pleased to give, by his grace, a value to our good works, which, in consequence of his promise, entitles them to an eternal reward. (Challoner) — The word useless, when joined to servant, generally means a servant from whom his master does not derive the service he has a right to expect; as in St. Matthew xxv. 30. Here the word is taken in a less odious sense. It means a servant who does not testify sufficient zeal and ardour in his master’s service, who is not very eager to please him. With regard to God, we are always useless servants, because he wants not our services; and without his assistance, we can neither undertake nor finish any thing to please him. (Calmet)

 

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Other thoughts on this Gospel Reading:

In our Gospel readings during these weeks of Ordinary Time, we are accompanying Jesus as he journeys toward Jerusalem and his Passion.

The past six weeks have focused our attention on readings which pointed out the opposition to Jesus and his disciples. The Gospel now returns to the subject of renewal, focusing on the inward renewal of the disciples.

Increase our faith: What the Apostles are asking for here is greater confidence greater trust in God, so that they can work the miracles which our Lord worked. This becomes evident when we see the contexts in Matthew and Mark in which the same idea is expressed. Our Lord had withered a fig-tree by a simple wish. The Apostles marveled at this. He told them that if they had greater faith they could order a mountain to hurl itself into the sea and it would obey them (Mt. 21: 18ff; Mk. 11: 20ff). What the Apostles needed, therefore, was greater trust in God. In response to his disciples’ request for more faith (verse 5), Jesus emphasizes rather the quality of the faith that they are to have (verse 6), needing only the tiniest amount, comparable to a mustard seed (see Matthew 13:31; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19).

**…you could say to this mulberry tree: **The mulberry (or sycamine) tree Jesus refers to was known for its extensive root system. It was difficult to uproot, let alone grow planted in seawater. Even with the smallest amount of faith, impossible things can happen (see Matthew 19:26)!

will . . . a servant: This part of Jesus’ discourse must be seen in the context of the times. Servants (the word here can also be translated as “slave”) were not treated as anything near equals in ancient times. The apostles, as would most people at that time, would have found the very idea of giving a servant any type of consideration ludicrous and laughable, much like if we extended the same consideration to a working-animal. The master expects the servant to carry out his orders. When he returns from working in the fields, he has house-work to do. His master does not feel indebted to him for this. This is what he is being paid for, this is his role in life. So it is with Christ’s Apostles.

Does . . . commanded: They are expected to carry out the orders he gives them; they are his servants, or rather servants of the Gospel. They can never feel that they have worked enough.

We are unworthy servants: The Greek word “achreios” translated "useless’ in some translations has the meaning of “poor,” “humble,” in the context. The work of a servant as described above, cannot be useless in the conventional sense. The sense here is that the Lord does not have a personal need for our work, though as St. Augustine has pointed out, our works (obedience) are useful to *us *in that they conform us to God’s will.

we have . . . done . . . duty: As servants they have a right to their pay, but they deserve no extra credit for doing what was their duty.

 

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Citations of Luke 17:5-10 found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Perseverance in faith

**162 **Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith."44 To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith;45 it must be “working through charity,” abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.46

1. 1 Tim 1:18-19.

1. Cf. Mk 9:24; Lk 17:5; 22:32.

1. Gal 5:6; Rom 15:13; cf. Jas 2:14-26.

 

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Some questions for personal reflection on the Gospel Reading:

*   In the Gospel Reading, what discussion has just taken place right before this passage (Luke 17:1-4)?

* How might the disciples’ plea of verse 5 relate to Jesus’ statement in Luke 17:3-4? What does Jesus’ response (verse 6) really mean?

* What attitude should Jesus’ followers have in following him (verses 7-10)? How do you feel when you have done something virtuous? How does this passage say you should behave? What do you think of Jesus’ recommendations about your attitude about being good or in serving the Lord?

* How is this attitude reminiscent of that of Mary, the Mother of Our Lord (Luke 1:38)? Of John the Baptist (John 3:30)? St. Paul (Philippians 3:8)?

* Which quality of discipleship do you have the most difficulty with? How might dealing with this affect the other qualities?

 

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A meditation for personal application on the Gospel Reading from Catholic Matters:

**APPLICATION: **Although the words we have read were addressed to the Apostles, they apply to all of us, each in his own station in life. Following the example of the Apostles, we must all pray for greater trust in God. Most of us are inclined to forget God and his providence when our earthly affairs are going well. How often do we thank him when we are enjoying good health, and when our home-life and business are going smoothly? How many Catholics make a novena of thanksgiving for all the gifts they have received and are receiving daily from God’s providence. How many, rather, pat themselves on the back for what they claim as their own successes?

It is only when a storm arises in their lives that they think of him. Remember that storm on the Lake of Gennesaret. The Apostles were rowing cheerfully across the lake. They were probably telling tall yarns about the size and the number of fish they had caught there in their day. They may have been striving against one another to show who was the strongest oarsman. They did not seem to notice that Jesus was sleeping soundly in the bow of the boat. They thought of him only when the storm arose, and then when they realized that they were in danger they shouted to him for help (Mk. 5: 37). They didn’t realize that both the calm and the storm were under his province.

Too many of us also, forget God and fail to give him the thanks and the credit for our well-being which we owe him. We rush to him only when trouble strikes. In his infinite goodness he often answers such panic prayers. If, however, we had thought of him every day and realized his place in our lives with how much more confidence would we then approach him in our hour of special need? If our own personal lives were stronger how much more readily would we accept the adversities and the trials that he sends us or allows to befall us for our eternal good? We can all ask God today to “increase our faith.”

As regards our work for God’s kingdom and for the salvation of ourselves and of our neighbor we are, like the Apostles, servants of God, and we should be proud of our status. We should be glad, that is, that he allows us to cooperate with him in the building of his heavenly kingdom. Are we really dutiful servants in this regard? Let each one of us ask himself seriously today : What have I done up to now to help to make God known to my neighbor who is ignorant of God and never thinks of what will happen him after death? I may not be able to put in words very clearly what I know and believe about God and the future life, but I can speak to him far more convincingly by my way of living, by my daily actions. I once knew a customs officer whose work was in a whiskey distillery to see that excise duty was paid on all spirits sold. He had two non-Catholic, in fact non-baptized, assistants working in his office. One of their privileges was three free drinks a day, one in the morning before work began, one at mid-day, one at 6 p.m. before leaving the office. A devout Catholic, the officer recited his Angelus before taking the refreshment. His assistants, out of respect, stood up in silence while he recited his prayer—they jokingly called it the “grace before drinks.” After a while they began to question this evidently sincere man. He explained that the prayer recalled to us the coming of Christ, the Son of God, on earth to bring us to heaven. They eventually took instructions and became devout Catholics. A “grace before drinks” said with sincerity can be apostolic work.

The sincere Christian can find many ways to help to make Christ known to his neighbor without going on the foreign missions. There are pagans and unbelievers, often such through no fault of their own, and there are many lax Christians all around us. We should, and we can, have an effective influence on them and on their eternal future, if we ourselves live our Christian lives as Christ expects us to do. A quiet word, a charitable gesture, a truly unselfish interest in a neighbor’s troubles, coming from a sincere lay-man can do more good than a series of sermons given by a renowned theologian in the parish church.

Look around you today. Think of your fellow-workers and those living in your own street. Many of them need help and need it badly. You can help them, God expects you to help them. It is his plan for getting you to help yourself to get to heaven. If you fail to cooperate with God by helping to bring his stray children back to him, you may find that you will be a straying child on your day of reckoning. God forbid

 

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A meditation on the Gospel from Don Schwager at Daily Reading and Meditation:

**“Lord, increase our faith”

Scripture:** Luke 17:5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said,“If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Meditation: What is the greatest force in the world? Jesus tells us that with faith we can do far more than we could accomplish by our own strength; faith can even move mountains and trees (see Matthew17:20; Mark 11:23)! What kind of faith did Jesus have in mind here? By faith Jesus meant more than just belief in God and in his power. Jesus spoke of faith as something dynamic, active, and very alive. Expectant faith is a gift God gives us for overcoming obstacles that stand in the way of doing God’s will. It enables us to cooperate with God’s grace and power for accomplishing whatever God wants us to do. To illustrate the powerful force of faith, Jesus used the image of an uprooted tree. Have you ever seen an uprooted tree caused by a sudden wind storm or flash flood? On another occasion Jesus illustrated the force of faith with the incredible image of a mountain transplanted: “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matthew 17:20) The term “mountain remover” was used in Jesus’ time for describing someone who could solve great problems and difficulties. Don’t we often encounter challenges and difficulties which seem beyond our power to handle? What appears impossible to human power is possible to those who believe in God’s power.

Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. God expects more from us than we can do by ourselves. Faith in God is the key for removing obstacles and difficulties which keep us from doing his will. We are his servants, and he is ever ready to work through us and in us for his glory. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience — an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. Do you trust in God’s grace and power to resist temptation and to overcome obstacles in doing his will?

Jesus’ parable of the dutiful laborers seems to suggest that we ought to always give our best, regardless of what we can expect in return. But, aren’t we like the laborer in Jesus’ parable who expected fair compensation for his day’s work? How unfair for the master to compel him to give more than what was expected! Don’t we love to assert our rights: “I will give only what is required and no more!” But who can satisfy the claims of love? Jesus used this parable of the dutiful servant to explain that we can never put God in our debt or make the claim that God owes us something. We must regard ourselves as God’s servants, just as Jesus came “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Service of God and of neighbor is both a voluntary or free act which springs from a generous and merciful heart and a sacred duty which we owe to an all-merciful and gracious God. One can volunteer for public service or be compelled to do service for one’s country. Likewise, God expects us to give him the worship and praise which is his due. And he gladly accepts the free-will offering of our lives to him and his service. What makes our offering pleasing to God is the love we express in the gift of self-giving. True love is sacrificial, generous, and selfless.

How can we love others selflessly and unconditionally? God himself is Love (1 John 4:16) and he fills our hearts with the boundless love that gives what is good for the sake of others. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). God honors the faithful servant who loves mercifully and gives generously. He wants to bless us richly with his gifts and graces and to work through and in us for his glory. We must remember, however, that God can never be indebted to us. We have no claim on him. His love compels us to give him our best! And when we have done our best, we have simply done our duty. We can never outmatch God in generous giving and loving service. Does the love of God compel you to give your best?

*“Lord, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity. Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you. May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others, just as you have so generously poured yourself out for me.” *

 

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Before I add the next meditation, I just wanted to share an additional audio Bible study that should have been included on my first post. It is from the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother out of Nebraska City, Nebraska who have a weekly study of all three Readings. They usually take a break over the summer, but I didn’t realize they were back and up and running,

Here is the link:

October 3, 2010 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

 

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A meditation and questions for reflections from “The Word Among Us” magazine:

“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

That word, “power,” is translated from the Greek word dunamis, which means ability, abundance, strength, and a mighty (wonderful) work. It’s the same word that gives us the English word dynamite. It’s interesting to see that St. Paul doesn’t contrast this “power” that God has given us with weakness or frailty but with cowardice and fear. Fear weakens. Fear renders us prey to temptation. Fear curbs our potential, saps our vitality, and undermines the confidence we should have in Christ. If we let fear rule us, we will end up going through our days more like a firecracker than dynamite!

So shout it out today: “God has given me a spirit of power, not fear!” If fear lurks in your heart, then know this too: God didn’t put it there. So pull it up by the roots! Name it. Throw as much light on it as you can. Expose it, and watch it wither away.

You don’t have to understand it perfectly. Just pray that the power that this fear has over you will be broken. Then ask the Father to plant his love in your heart instead. The next time that fear tries to return, resist it. Turn your thoughts to the truths of the gospel—the truths of your Father’s love—and hold fast.

Remember: “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). So spend time with God, who is that perfect Love. Let him root out the fear. Let him see and touch everything in your heart. You are not alone; let him help you to overcome. Sit quietly with him, and let him talk to you and fill you with his power. God wants to make you like dynamite in the world, empowering you to spread his message of freedom and salvation wherever you go. So immerse yourself in him, and let him set you free of all your fears.

“Father, break off the hold fear has in my life. Plant your love in my heart instead. I want to be a vessel of your grace and power today.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14; Luke 17:5-10)

1. In the first reading, we hear these words: “the just one, because of his faith, shall live.” How easy it is to have faith in God when things are going good. Why is faith in God so critical during difficult times? How is your faith during such times? Share a time when your faith allowed you to overcome a difficult circumstance.

1. The responsorial psalm offers two contrasting ways to respond to the work of the Lord in our lives. One is to sing joyfully to the Lord, acclaim him, offer him thanksgiving, and bow down in worship. The other is to harden our hearts and test and tempt the Lord. What steps can you take to allow your own response to the Lord to be more like the former and less like the latter?

1. In the second reading, the Apostle Paul reminds us to “stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” What are some ways you can “stir into flame” the gifts of God in your life?

1. In the Gospel, the Apostles ask Jesus to “Increase our faith.” We know that faith is a gift of God, yet we have a part to play in responding to this gift. What are some steps you can take to allow the Lord to increase your faith?

1. The meditation ends with these word: “God wants to make you like dynamite in the world, empowering you to spread his message of freedom and salvation wherever you go. So immerse yourself in him, and let him set you free of all your fears.” Do you believe these words and, if so, how have you put them into practice? Are there still areas of fear in your life? What are they? Are you willing to allow Christian brothers or sisters in Christ to pray for you to be set free of any fear that still has a hold on your life?

 

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If You Had Faith (and Indeed You Do) — A Biblical Reflection for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. by Father Thomas Rosica

Questioning our faith and even the object of it is a daily, healthy exercise! Faith cannot be shelved until we need it, for then we will discover that it has grown weak and meaningless from disuse and will not sustain us. The virtue of integrity involves a well-exercised faith that will enable us to survive even the most awful challenges. Even the strongest among us can be reduced to helplessness and silence…Let us consider today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings to gain some insights into the precious gift of faith…

Habakkuk’s cry is not in vain

The words of the prophet Habakkuk in today’s first reading (1:2-3; 2:2-4) have been taken as the prophet’s complaint against the internal evils of Judah; the language used is that employed by Amos, Isaiah and Jeremiah to condemn the social abuses of their day. In Habakkuk 1:5-7 the Lord answers this complaint by indicating the Chaldean empire as his instrument for punishing his people for these sins. However, Habakkuk’s cry is not in vain. The Lord speaks to him: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay” (2:2-3). That is all that Habakkuk gets — and most of the time it is all that we get — “wait patiently for the vision.” It seems woefully insufficient. This is why our faith must be a living, growing, developing part of us.

“Increase our faith!”

The sayings of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel (17:5-10) continue his response to the apostles’ request to increase their faith (Luke 17:5-6), and 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. Jesus addresses four independent sayings (verses 1-2; 3-4; 5-6; 7-10) to his audience. Luke has woven these four teachings into a narrative: On two subjects Jesus gives very demanding instructions about sinning against a brother or sister (verses 1-2) and treatment of one who sins against you (verses 3-4). The teachings are so difficult that the disciples ask for greater faith, in response to which Jesus calls out and affirms the faith they have (verses 5-6).

Both the first and the second teaching have to do with living together in the community of faith. In the Christian community, two kinds of difficulties will arise often, threatening the harmony of the community. One difficulty grows out of the fact that not all members are at the same level of maturity; there are always “little ones,” that is, the newly baptized. The speech and behavior of more mature members could cause one of the neophytes to stumble and fall. “Being the cause of stumbling” is what lies at the heart of “temptation to sin” (verse 1) and “cause to sin” (verse 2). Parallels to this text are found in Matthew (18:6-7) and Mark (9:43).

The second kind of difficulty that threatens the Christian community stems from those occasions when disciples sin against one another (verses 3-4). This teaching is very realistic; members of the community hurt one another. It is no wonder that the apostles, upon hearing the instructions in verses 1-4, say to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (verse 5). In using the term “apostles” and “Lord” in this sentence, Luke speaks not only about Jesus and his immediate followers at that moment in history, but also the Risen Lord of the Church and the apostles and leaders of our contemporary Church.

Continued below…

 

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**Not a reprimand but an affirmation
**
In Verse 5 Jesus’ followers feel the burden of leadership. Jesus’ response to them calls for a close examination of their responsibilities and challenges: “If you had faith.” The Greek language offers two types of “if” clauses: those that express a condition contrary to the fact (“If I were you”) and those that express a condition according to fact (“If Jesus is our Lord”). The conditional clause in Verse 6 is the second type; we could translate it “If you had faith [and indeed you do].” Jesus’ response, then, is not a reprimand for an absence of faith, but an affirmation of the faith they have and an invitation to live out the full possibilities of that faith. Even the small faith they already have cancels out words such as “impossible.”

The slave-master relationship

The fourth and final teaching (verses 7-10) is in the form of a parable and has no parallel in Matthew and Mark. It opens in a manner common to a number of Lukan parables: “Will any one of you?” or “Which one of you?” (11:5-7; 14:23, 31; 15:4,8). The assumed answer is “no” or “no one.” The parable is built around the slave-master relationship, rather common in New Testament parables but without a clear analogy in our culture.

We are only servants

I am sure that Jesus’ words kept echoing in the hearts of the apostles when they set out to proclaim the Gospel. They traveled from one city to another, from one region to the next, spending themselves in the service of the Kingdom and always taking to heart the admonition of Jesus: “When you have done all that is commanded you, say: ‘We are unworthy servants; we have done only what was our duty’” (17:10). Jesus’ words raise questions that cannot be avoided: Have we really done what was our duty? And what must we do now? What tasks lie before us? What resources and what forces do we have at hand? The questions are complex and so the answer to them must be carefully thought through.

Jesus came among us as one who serves. And so, too, do his followers; they must be first and foremost servants of others, not masters. There is no place or time at which the disciple can say: “I have completed my service, now I want to be served.” This applies especially to those of us who have been entrusted with the leadership of God’s people in any way. The request for an increase of faith (verse 5) must not seduce apostles or leaders to assume that with the increase comes elevation in position so that the period of serving ends. Apostles and leaders come under the instructions for all disciples. No matter where we find ourselves, a servant is a servant.

 

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Encouraging the Young [A Reflection on the Second Reading]
by Fr. Jack Peterson

St. Paul’s two letters to Timothy are filled with solid pastoral advice to his young cohort whom Paul had traveled with extensively, trained in the Faith, sent on sensitive missions and commissioned to oversee the Church in Ephesus as its bishop. His second letter, from which we have our second reading, has a particularly personal tone and reflects rather warmly Paul’s role as a mentor and spiritual father to Timothy.

One of the themes that Paul addresses consistently in these two letters is the need to remain firm in faith and teach clearly and with conviction the basics of the Faith and principles of the Christian way of life to the flock. “Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.” Paul knows that Timothy is facing opposition from non-Christians and even from some Christians who are confused or who have wandered from the path to Christ.

Paul also knows that this aspect of being a pastor can be a real challenge, and so he exhorts Timothy to be strong. “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” As Paul calls upon Timothy to be courageous, he links this call with the grace to be full of love and self-control. He is to be courageous and clear in his teaching, but also to be full of charity and self-control. He is not to lord it over the flock, nor to beat them over the head with the truth, but to preach the good news with patience, wisdom, perseverance and charity.

Paul goes on: “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.” Christians experience the hardship by learning to live the Gospel before preaching it and by proclaiming it within a culture that does not want to hear it. But part of the hardship is also to fight our natural tendency to speak harshly or rudely out of frustration, anger and impatience with those whose faith is weak and who have been duped by the false arguments of many in our world today. Paul is exhorting Timothy and us to speak with charity, never compromising on the truth, but always mindful of the tone we use, the timing and frequency of our challenges, and the support that we offer to those to whom our words are addressed. Do we spend enough time praying with, encouraging and building up those to whom we are teaching the Faith?

In the light of Paul’s words to Timothy, it is timely to recall that the Church in the United States has named the first Sunday in October “Respect Life Sunday.” We all know that the beautiful, Christian understanding of the dignity of the human person — based upon the word of God revealed in nature as well as Scripture and tradition — runs contrary to moral principles of many in our modern culture. The Church’s effort to proclaim that dignity and help our nation guarantee that dignity at every stage of life is challenged on many levels from various sectors of society. We do well to head Paul’s words to Timothy as they relate to this huge, modern-day battle.

I have been very encouraged in recent years by the faith and conviction of many of the young people in the Church today on this issue of respect for life. I find them embracing in ever greater numbers over the past 20 years the Church’s teaching regarding the dignity of human life from conception to natural death with fervor and devotion. I find them being bold in their willingness to stand up against our culture and to “guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.” The number of young people who participate in pro-life organizations and demonstrations, who volunteer at nursing homes, and who advocate for those on death row is growing. I think that a driving force in the effort to proclaim the good news about life is the young Church.

So, Paul’s words to Timothy are ever more relevant today. The young people of the Church need to be encouraged to speak clearly and with conviction the truths of our faith, especially pertaining to the fact that every human being was made in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an inherent dignity given by our Creator. We never have the right to take the life of an innocent human being. We need to encourage them to be courageous in the face of persecution. We also need to travel with them, like St. Paul, as we challenge them, care for them with the love of Christ, invite them to develop virtue and grow in their self-control in the face of opposition, and to remember that we teach loudest with the example of our lives.
*
Fr. Peterson is Campus Minister at Marymount University in Arlington and director of the Youth Apostles Institute in McLean, Virginia. (This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.) *

 

[Fidelis]

Five Fundamentals of a Firm Faith – A Meditation on the Readings for the 27th Sunday of the Year
By: Msgr. Charles Pope

The readings for today’s Mass provide a rich fare in describing some essential qualities of faith. Each of these amounts to a fundamental for firm faith. There are five fundamentals that can be seen:

1. Want The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5-6). There’s an old saying, “What you want, you get.” It is true that many doubt this and think that they have wanted many things that they did not get. But it is likely they didn’t want it enough. Precluding physical impossibilities and other impossible things, when we really want something enough we usually get it. That’s because we work at it and have a passion for it.

Many people who say they cannot find time to pray or go to Church still find time to golf, watch TV and eat. They find the time because they want to do these things. They do not find time to pray or go to Mass because they do not want to do these things enough.

Hence, the apostles ask the Lord to increase their faith. In effect they ask for a deeper desire to know the Lord. Too often we miss a step in our prayer. We might ask the Lord to help us to pray when what we really should ask for is that the Lord give us a desire to pray. For, when we want to pray, we will pray. When we want to be holy, we will naturally strive for holy practices. It is about what we desire, what we want. Ask the Lord to help you want Him and his kingdom. Ask the Lord for a new heart that has proper wants and desires. Ask the Lord for a new mind that has proper priorities and that prefers to think on what is good, true and beautiful. What you want, you get.

1. **Wait –**How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity(Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4) –

Waiting is one of the great mysteries of the Christian life. Why God often makes us wait is not always clear. Perhaps He is trying to strengthen our faith. Perhaps he is helping us clarify or confirm our desires. But, truth be told, waiting on the Lord has a lot of mystery about it. Nevertheless it is consistently told us in scripture that we must learn to wait on the Lord and that there are blessings for those who do. For example:

1. Ps 37:8 Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil….those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land.
2. Is 49:23 those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.
3. Lam 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
4. Is 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

And so, waiting is a fundamental of firm faith. Gospel music is replete with waiting themes. One song says , You can’t Hurry God, you just have to wait, trust and never doubt him, no matter how long it takes. He may not come when you want him but he’s always right on time. Another song says, Weeping may endure for a night but joy will come with the morning light. Other songs counsel that we must hold on and hold out:

1. I promised the Lord that I would hold out, he said he’d meet me in Galilee
2. Hold on just a little while longer, every thing’s gonna be alright
3. Keep your hand on the plow…Hold on
4. Lord help me to hold out, until my change comes!

The reading from Habakkuk above warns that the rash man has no integrity. That is another way of saying that waiting is integral to the Christian life. It is a fundamental of faith. To have integrity means to have all the necessary pieces and parts which make up the whole. To lack patience then is to lack integrity, to lack an essential fundamental of the Christian faith.

Continued below…

 

[Fidelis]

1. **Withstand **– God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2 Tim 1:6-8) This quote from today’s second reading tells us that life has its difficulties and challenges. Things do not always get easier by becoming a Christian. In fact, they often get harder since we must endure the hatred and ridicule of the world. Thus a fundamental of the Christian Faith is that we be able to withstand such things with courage.

Notice that this courage, power and love come from God, not from us. Hence it is grace that is being described here. This is not a moralism or a slogan. Withstanding means that God is “standing with” us, and we with God. Such withstanding is only possible by the relationship with God that comes by faith. In this way we discover the power, the capacity to withstand, to courageously live the Christian faith in a hostile world.

1. Work - Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.‘” (Luke 17:6-10) This saying of the Lord in today’s Gospel can tend to irritate us and even seem hurtful if we misunderstand grace and seek to understand this text by the flesh. Our flesh is self-centered and thinks we deserve praise and good things from God for the good things we do. The flesh expects, it demands, rewards. But the fact is that we can never have God in debt to us, never. If we have good works, they are not our gift to God, they are His gift to us.

All our works of charity and faith which our flesh wants credit for, they are all God’s work and God’s gift. The letter to the Ephesians makes this clear:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God– not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

Hence if I think that I did something deserving of praise and reward I am thinking in terms of the flesh not the spirit. All I can really say to God is “Thank You” when I have done something good like caring for the poor or keeping the commandments. His grace alone permitted me to work them. God may speak elsewhere of rewarding us but that is His business. He is not in debt to us in anyway. When we have done everything we ought our one disposition should be gratitude. We are useless servants in the sense that we can do nothing without God’s grace. We can only do what we are told and what He enables us to do.

That said, it is clear, work is a pillar of faith. The text from today’s gospel and the text from Ephesians just above both make clear that work is something God has for us. James 2:17 says, So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Likewise, Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me. It was I who chose you that you should go and bear fruit that will last”(Jn 15:16) Work is a fundamental of faith.

1. **Win - ** For the vision still has it’s time, it presses on to fulfillment and it will not disappoint. It will surely come, it will not be late.(Hab 2:3) Yes, it is true that we must want, wait, withstand and work. But we do not do this to no purpose. We have a cross to carry. But if we carry it with the Lord, we carry it to glory. The end of today’s first reading makes this clear. There is an old Gospel song that says,

Harder yet may be the fight, Right may often yield to might, Wickedness awhile may reign, Satan’s cause may seem to gain, There is a God that rules above, With hand of power and heart of love, If I am right, He’ll fight my battle, I shall have peace some day. I do not know how long ’twill be, Nor what the future holds for me, But this I know, if Jesus leads me, I shall get home some day.

This is what Habakkuk describes, that we will win with Jesus. He describes a victory that is

1. Future – the vision still has it’s time, it presses on to fulfillment
2. Fantastic – and it will not disappoint
3. Firm – It will surely come
   4.** Fixed** – it will not be late

For all those who walk with Jesus on the way of the Cross, there is victory up ahead. Even here we already enjoy the fruits of crosses past. Our withstanding of the past has given us strength for today. Our waitings of the past have had their fulfillment and are the hope that our current waiting too will have its fruit. Our work by God’s grace has already granted benefits to ourselves and others.

But these are but a small foretaste of a greater glory to come, which waits for us in heaven. Yes, if we want, and wait, withstand and work, we will win! I promise it to you in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Fidelis]

**FANNING THE FLAME, **from Presentation Ministries

“Stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you.” —2 Timothy 1:6

We who have been baptized and confirmed have received the Holy Spirit. However, we have sinned, given in to fear, and let ourselves be manipulated by pleasures and pressures. In these ways we have stifled (1 Thes 5:19) and saddened the Spirit (Eph 4:30). By repenting, praying, and obeying, we can fan into flame the Holy Spirit. Then we will be everything Jesus died and rose for us to be. The grace of our Confirmation will be activated to the full. The Acts of the Apostles will be the acts of our lives. We will have a new Pentecost and renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).

Go to Confession as soon as possible. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you confess your sins (see Jn 16:8). After Confession, ask two or more Spirit-filled Christians to lay hands on you and pray for a stirring up of the Holy Spirit in your life. Especially ask your spouse to pray over you.

During or after this prayer you will experience a stirring up of the Spirit. The Spirit will make you supernaturally strong, loving, and wise (2 Tm 1:7). You will not be ashamed of the gospel (2 Tm 1:8; Rm 1:16), but empowered to boldly share your faith. You will have the faith to do for Jesus what you’ve never done before, and even to be persecuted for His gospel.

**Prayer: **Father, may I thirst for the Spirit more than for anything else (Jn 7:37). On this Respect Life Sunday, I pray that, by the power of the Spirit, I may save the lives of babies in the wombs of their mothers.
Promise: “Increase our faith.” —Lk 17:5
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Whose Spirit guides us to all truth. “Praise and exalt Him above all forever” (Dn 3:60). Alleluia!

 

[Fidelis]

That’s all for this week. Thanks to everyone who stayed with this thread to the end. God willing, we’ll do it again next week. God bless!