by Father William R. Dulaney
HAVE I REACTED angrily or judged rashly before hearing the whole story, getting the full picture or thinking through a situation?
Any one of us whose honest answer to this question is “yes” would be wise to approach today’s Scriptures with an open mind, giving their message a chance to transform our lives and motivate us to grow in our love for others.
The first reading begins with Habakkuk’s complaint to the Lord: “I cry for help, but you do not listen! I cry out to you ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene.” The Lord replies, “Write down the vision … the vision still has its time … if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come.”
Paul’s Letter to Timothy encourages the faithful to “bear your share of hardships for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
In the Gospel, Our Lord calls the apostles to greater faith and higher standards of performance and service. He chides: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to the mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” He also challenges them: “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”
Unsettling Texts
These texts can be unsettling, and we may not want to hear what they have to say.
How easily we understand Habakkuk’s frustration at the injustice and misery he observes. We don’t want the Lord to wait; we want Him to alleviate the problems that beset His people now!
Perhaps we feel we’ve endured enough hardships and don’t need St. Paul encouraging us to embrace or bear more.
How uncomfortable we are when the Lord suggests that our faith is weak, implies our work ethic is lacking or labels us as unprofitable servants when we have conscientiously done our duty and fulfilled our obligations.
Open to Suggestion
Further reflection on these readings should allow us to put aside indignation and dispose us to accept their suggestion that within us, there is a capacity for faith, charity and sacrifice greater than we might imagine. Any doubts we have in this regard should vanish in light of the abundant good deeds of countless others around us.
The more we think about it, the more we realize there are many considerate people who, in their plans and decisions, take others’ needs into account. These altruistic individuals think about more than salaries, job satisfaction and personal comfort. Based on their conviction that things can be better, that they can make a difference, they choose a vocation, profession, occupation or type of service, which will enable them to help others.
At any given time, there are thousands of men and women preparing for careers in medicine or law, applying for positions in human, social or civil service or working toward certification as teachers or guidance counselors.
Others struggle to discern if their calling is to serve God and His people in ordained or religious life.
Each year, many courageous young people submit to rigorous training programs as they enlist in the armed forces or join the ranks of police and firefighters, fully aware that they may be called upon to risk their lives to ensure the safety of others.
No school, parish, youth or community programs would be successful without volunteers who untiringly give of themselves.
How fortunate we are for the inspiring lessons in whole-hearted devotion and commitment taught by parents whose lives are a ceaseless outpouring of love and a never-ending denial of their own needs and pleasures as they sacrifice for their children.
Such dedication and concern manifested in people’s daily lives assure us that the challenge to trust in God’s plan and the call to greater service in today’s Scriptures is realistic, appropriate and timely.
They remind us that the Lord hears the cries of those in need and responds by motivating ordinary people like us to help them – giving us the strength to withstand any hardships we may encounter.[hr]
Readings for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4
Psalm 95, 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14
Luke 17: 5-10[hr]
Father William R. Dulaney, parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great parish, Bellerose, is an adjunct spiritual director at Cathedral Prep and Seminary, Elmhurst, and part-time chaplain at St. Edmund Prep, Sheepshead Bay.