27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word:  True disciples are living witnesses of Jesus, through faith in Him.

Theme:  We are living witnesses of Jesus when we fulfill God’s vision for the community.

Promise: “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.” (Hb 2:2-3)

Reflection:
In the first reading, Habakkuk pleads for help, but God seems not to listen.  “I cry out to you, ‘Violence’, but you do not intervene,” (Hb1:2).  At times, when life’s trials and difficulties overwhelm us, human desperation leads us to even question if God is still in control. Sickness and diseases remain rampant. Earthquakes and natural calamities devastate people.

Wars and conflicts destroy our peace.  The poor continue to be victims of injustice and exploitation.  Deceivers and the corrupt prevail over the righteous and the honest.  Strife and discord are present even among the God-fearing.  Perplexed by all these, the faithful tend to ask: Is there hope?  When will we see the end of all these?  When will God finally intervene?

Only God Himself can answer these questions.  For “God’s vision has its time, will not disappoint and will surely come,” (Hb 2:3).  God’s intervention and move will come in His own time, in His own way, as He admonishes: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:8-9)

Faith is God’s gift, and only those who have this gift can hold on to their faith and continue to believe in God’s omnipresence and omniscience in the darkest moments of their lives. Remember the lesson of ‘Footprints in the Sand’ when the original two sets of footprints became only one set, because God carried the man?  For God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you,” (Hb 13:5).   God never leaves us; it is we who abandon Him every time we commit sin.  We just have to be sensitive and wait patiently for the Lord’s move concerning our worries.  We may not fully understand His ways but, in faith, we should be compliant to His will and His perfect plan for us!  Yes, we ought to let God be God!

The second reading inspires the Community’s Word for October – True disciples are living witnesses of Jesus, through faith in Him – and challenges us as members BLD to live lives of genuine faith, even in the face of difficulties, always conscious to live and behave in a Christ-like manner at all times and in all circumstances, whether in and out of Community.

In the gospel reading, the apostles ask the Lord to, “Increase our faith,” (Lk 17:5).  Jesus’ response is: “If you have faith …” (Lk 17:6) meaning it is the sincerity of our faith that truly matters.  And for faith to increase, what counts is putting faith into real life practice.  When faith is weak, we should, like the apostles ask the Lord in humble prayer to increase our faith. Little by little, build up your faith daily, through mass, the Eucharist, prayers, bible reading, reflections, worship, etc., so that it may grow stronger and deeper day by day.  Faith will definitely grow as we deliberately choose to act in and live by faith.

As we mature spiritually, we come to realize that everything good is God’s grace.  But we cannot please God by merely complying with the barest minimum requirements of our faith,  content to always be at the receiving end of His grace, lest we  become the “expendable servant” (Lk 17:10) who merely did his duty and nothing more.   A true and faithful servant of the Lord delights in doing his best, contributing and utilizing his entire God-given talents and resources, and acknowledging that all is gift. He does not serve to win praise for himself but to glorify God in all his accomplishments.   He considers it a privilege to serve, and be a part of God’s great plan.  For, in faith, we believe “God is the One who made all things, and all things are for His glory.  He wanted to have many children share His glory,” (Hb 2:10 ).

Reflection Questions:
1.    What situations at the time of the prophet Habakkuk are still happening today?
2.    In your personal circumstances, how can you be a faithful servant of the Lord?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
October 6, 2013 (Sun)    Hb 1:2,3,2:2-4/Ps 95:1,2,6,7,8,9/2Tm 1:6-8,13,14/Lk 17:5-10
October 7, 2013 (Mon)   Jon 1:1-2:1-2,11/Jon 2:3-4,8/Lk 10:25-37
October 8, 2013 (Tues)  Jon 3:1-10/Ps 130:1-4,7,8/Lk 10:38-42
October 9, 2013 (Wed)   Jon 4:1-11/Ps 86:3-6,9,10/Lk 11:1-4
October 10, 2013 (Thur)  Mal 3:13-20/Ps 1:1-4,6/Lk 11:5-13
October 11, 2013 (Fri)     Jl 1:13-15;2:1,2/Ps 9:2,3,6,16,8-9/Lk 11:15-26
October 12, 2013 (Sat)    Jl 4:12-21/Ps 97:1,2,5,6,11,12/Lk 11:27-28

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

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