Faith Can Move Mountains: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year C
Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: Living out true Faith! Faith can move mountains!
Point of Reflection: Today’s liturgy teaches that true faith has one fundamental and universal feature; thus, it affects real life. This means true faith must be lived out. True faith must always find reflection in real life. For Habakkuk, living out his faith meant the courageous facing of doubts and threatening circumstances without losing trust in God and falling into hopeless resignation. For Timothy, living out his faith meant maintaining his apostolic zeal in the face of rejection and adversity.
First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2–3, 2:2–4
Psalm: Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6–8, 13–14
Gospel: Luke 17:5–10
Sermon (Reflection): The message of today’s liturgy could be summarised in a popular English saying, which states that “faith moves mountains”. This saying undoubtedly developed in reference to Jesus’ words contained in today’s Gospel.
The Gospel passage features two distinct parts which jointly convey an important lesson on the practice of faith. First, the apostles ask Jesus to literally “add faith to us”. This request for an increase of faith means that they do not lack faith altogether, but consider their faith insufficient. Jesus’ answer shows them the way to make their faith increase. If they would only start using even the little faith that they already have, it would grow and eventually enable them to perform amazing deeds, the proverbial “moving of mountains”. Pairing the image of a tiny mustard seed and that of a mountain, Jesus creates a contrast that teaches that faith can grow from something tiny to a force that changes the world. Thus, he teaches the disciples that faith is not a property one can acquire, but an ability that needs to be developed by steadfast practice until it reaches its full potential.
Jesus proceeds then to show the apostles the way to apply their faith and thus make it grow – faithful and unassuming service. He described a situation that would be normal in any ancient, wealthy household. There, house servants or slaves would be expected to perform their duties without expecting either gratitude or reward for their work. The servant was expected to work in the fields, and later to serve the table of the master. By doing so, the servants fulfilled their obligations and responsibilities. Likewise, the disciples were called to serve God by their faithful adherence to Jesus and his teaching. They were brought to Jesus and this was their initial gift of faith. They ought to develop it by faithful service, considering themselves “worthless slaves”. The Greek phrase used here is better translated as “unprofitable servants”. This means that their work ought to be done not for profit, recognition, or gratitude, but to be God’s work done by them in response to the initial gift of faith. The exercise of this faith and being God’s servant is in itself the reward.
In the first reading of today, we encounter prophet Habakkuk who lived through a time of dramatic changes in the life of his nation. It all began with the long and very promising rule of a faithful and zealous king Josiah, who conducted a sweeping religious reform in the land of Judah. Sadly, this exemplary king unexpectedly lost his life in 609 BC, in a battle against the invading Egyptians. The land was then occupied, first by the Egyptians and then by the Babylonians. Judah became an occupied territory and the Israelites were subjected to harsh foreign rule. These tragic events and foreign oppression led many faithful Israelites to question God and doubt God’s care and power. The troubling question arose: “why evil triumphs over good and how can a good and powerful God allow evil to prevail? Habakkuk, an eyewitness to these events, addresses these questions in today’s passage.
It begins with an assurance that God’s saving intervention is sure to come at an appointed time. God does not stand idly by while his people hurt and disintegrate. Rather, “God has a vision” for the future, which means that history unfolds according to God’s design and purposes. This message assures the people that God is in control of events, and evil will not go unchecked forever.
The final verse contains instructions on how the people ought to react to their current, difficult circumstances by contrasting the proud and the righteous. The proud do not have the “right spirit”, while the righteous “live by faith”. The right spirit which the proud lack is, therefore, the disposition of faith maintained despite oppression, violence and personal doubt. The righteous person survives and lives through changing times by maintaining a steadfast commitment and trust in God, even if the circumstances severely challenge such responses. Thus, faith finds its expression in not giving up on God, and on hope no matter what.
The second reading contains Paul’s appeal to his coworker, Timothy. This young leader was entrusted with managing the community in Ephesus (cf. 1 Tim 1:3), where he faced numerous problems and challenges to his authority. Understandably, Timothy might have grown discouraged and disillusioned. Fully aware of the situation, his mentor, Paul, wrote to encourage and motivate him. First, in the verse immediately before our reading, Paul reminded Timothy about the steadfast faith of the women from whom he received it – his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Tim 1:5). Evoking the example of these two women, Paul asks Timothy to “rekindle” his apostolic zeal for the leadership mission. Paul formally entrusted him with this task of leadership by the laying on of hands, thus passing on the apostolic authority to his young coworker. Paul then continues his exhortation, evoking his own example as a prisoner for the sake of the Gospel. Paul put his life on the line so that the good news could be heard, and he exhorts Timothy not to be ashamed of his Christian faith but to profess it openly, even when threatened with prosecution by the hostile Roman authorities. Finally, Timothy is asked to hold on to the sound and correct teaching he received from Paul. His role as a leader is to teach the correct Christian messag,e even if it would be unpopular or rejected. Inspired by the example of his grandmother and his mother, and mentored by Paul, Timothy’s foremost duty is to persevere in the faith he received and to pass it on to the members of his community. He is to “live the faith” which has been entrusted to him, and lead others to it.
Christian Act in Word of God “Living by true faith”
In many Christian communities, faith is linked with miracles. Allegedly, those with great faith can either perform miracles or benefit from miracles. However, the Bible and the story of Jesus teach that miracles were never the primary purpose of faith. In his time on earth, Jesus and the disciples performed only a few miracles. For Jesus, faith was primarily about shaping the daily lives of his followers. Led by faith, Jesus journeyed towards Jerusalem to offer his life for the salvation of the world. Driven by faith, Peter and the other apostles went out into the world preaching the Gospel day after day, and eventually laying down their own lives for it. They did not seek to heal every ill person or exorcise every demon. Rather, they used miracles to lead people to believe in Jesus and accept his teaching.
Faith’s primary role in the life of every Christian is to provide power and motivation to get us through our daily life in line with our Christian commitments. Thus, whenever we are tempted to abandon hope and to despair of God’s presence in our life, faith leads us to stand firm in our belief. Whenever we are tempted to do something that goes against Jesus’ teaching, our faith provides the strength to resist this temptation and make the right choice. Whenever we pass by a person in need and do not want to show any concern, faith makes us extend a helping hand. Whenever we are in conflict with a person who does not like us, our faith expresses itself in not acting against that person, but in making steps towards reconciliation, or, at least, not acting with vengeance. These are the kinds of miracles that Jesus was referring to when he spoke of moving mountains.
Life with all its challenges and insecurity often feels like a mountain upon our shoulders, a burden that threatens to crush us. It is then that we need true faith. Jesus does not expect us to exorcise demons, heal the sick, or raise the dead. These are the kind of miracles that initially impress but are soon forgotten. Let us remember that the same people who saw Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, some days later cried to Pilate, “crucify him”. Paraphrasing what Jesus said in today’s Gospel, we could say that Jesus wants us to move the mountain of life by the everyday small acts of faith.
Action: I will increase my faith
Prayer: Lord Jesus, make our faith and confidence grow through your presence and by the power of your Holy Spirit. May we be ever more like you, journeying through life courageously, carrying our burdens without ever losing hope and confidence, we ask this through Christ, Amen.
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