Fr. Francois Noha
The 27th Sunday in ordinary time suggests to us the discovery of the power of our faith. That faith leads us little by little to the discovery of God action in the world and in the lives of people. As the apostle Paul reminds Timothy, he says the same to us in these words: “You have been trusted to look after something precious, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us”, in other terms the gift of faith.
The gospel passage begins with the request of the apostles to Jesus asking him to increase their faith. Most often Jesus blames the apostles for their lack of faith, for example, in the case in which Peter walked on the water and began to sink. As Jesus usually acts, he did not tell them “yes” or “no”, He will increase their faith. However, He explains to them the power of the faith. This power is so great that even when your faith is as small as the mustard seed, it is able to move mountains. The most important is not to have more or less faith. What matters is to discover the potentiality that faith has and to use it at its best. How many times we would like to have the faith that surpasses others. Jesus reminds us that there is no need because of our faith as small as it is capable of operating miracles.
In the second paragraph, Jesus restates the idea that our faith is not founded on the immediate reward of what we do. That is, the Lord will not provide an instant recompense on every action we do because we are already fixed on the reward. Our faith should lead us to accomplish our duty without expecting other rewards. In this way, a man of faith is merely God’s servant who has done no more than his duty. This is also a warning to the “here and now” mentality for those who engage themselves in God's service. “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”. The translation from the New American Bible emphasizes on the work without profit. Not only immediate profit, but without profit at all. In order to illustrate this idea, the Lord Jesus makes reference to the community in which he lived. The relationship between the master and his servant is expressive. Today, the same example can be applied in our different relationships between the worker and his employer. Let us serve the Lord gratuitously and he will reward us at the proper time.
Finally, the first reading reminds us that “the just one, because of his faith, shall live”. While the people who rush have no integrity. Consequently the first questions which introduce the first reading will no longer be ours since time will not shatter the hope of the one who has faith. Let us concentrate on our faith and take example from Mary our mother and model.
The 27th Sunday in ordinary time suggests to us the discovery of the power of our faith. That faith leads us little by little to the discovery of God action in the world and in the lives of people. As the apostle Paul reminds Timothy, he says the same to us in these words: “You have been trusted to look after something precious, guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us”, in other terms the gift of faith.
The gospel passage begins with the request of the apostles to Jesus asking him to increase their faith. Most often Jesus blames the apostles for their lack of faith, for example, in the case in which Peter walked on the water and began to sink. As Jesus usually acts, he did not tell them “yes” or “no”, He will increase their faith. However, He explains to them the power of the faith. This power is so great that even when your faith is as small as the mustard seed, it is able to move mountains. The most important is not to have more or less faith. What matters is to discover the potentiality that faith has and to use it at its best. How many times we would like to have the faith that surpasses others. Jesus reminds us that there is no need because of our faith as small as it is capable of operating miracles.
In the second paragraph, Jesus restates the idea that our faith is not founded on the immediate reward of what we do. That is, the Lord will not provide an instant recompense on every action we do because we are already fixed on the reward. Our faith should lead us to accomplish our duty without expecting other rewards. In this way, a man of faith is merely God’s servant who has done no more than his duty. This is also a warning to the “here and now” mentality for those who engage themselves in God's service. “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”. The translation from the New American Bible emphasizes on the work without profit. Not only immediate profit, but without profit at all. In order to illustrate this idea, the Lord Jesus makes reference to the community in which he lived. The relationship between the master and his servant is expressive. Today, the same example can be applied in our different relationships between the worker and his employer. Let us serve the Lord gratuitously and he will reward us at the proper time.
Finally, the first reading reminds us that “the just one, because of his faith, shall live”. While the people who rush have no integrity. Consequently the first questions which introduce the first reading will no longer be ours since time will not shatter the hope of the one who has faith. Let us concentrate on our faith and take example from Mary our mother and model.