THEME: LORD INCREASE OUR FAITH

(Habakkuk 1: 2-3, 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8; Luke 17:5-10)

Anytime Jesus Christ talks to his Apostles and disciples, be reminded that His words apply to all of us.

In first reading from the minor Prophet Habakkuk, God urges us not to give up because of difficulties or situations that seem to shake our faith beyond our control. Finally the Prophet ended up with this very important admonition “Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by faith,”

In the second reading, St Paul urges us in his exaltation “Do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord”. We have to express our faith and love in Jesus Christ our Lord.

In Luke 17, the apostles recognized their personal weaknesses and their lack of faith and responded to Jesus in verse 5: “…Lord, increase our faith.” Dear friends in Christ,

  • We need faith to keep trusting even in the face of hardship and apparent silence from God.
  • We need faith to take the sting from every loss and quench the fire of every pain.
  • We need faith to trust the past to the mercy of God.
  • We need faith to seek and strive for peace even when violent people seem to go unpunished.
  • We need faith to remain honest Christians even in the face of injustice and economic hardship.
  • We need faith to remain Christians even when it has become difficult and risky to do so. Timothy and the members of his community may have had the temptation to abandon their faith.
  • We need faith to continue to trust God even in the land of captivity as Paul did.
  • We need faith to remain upright even when crooked people are making it faster.
  • We need faith to be disposed to forgiving those who hurt us.
  • We need faith not really to move mountains, but basically, to be good Christians.
  • We need faith to acknowledge the power of God in everything we accomplish, even in the charity we do.

For us to grow in this kind of faith, we need to often use it. By using our faith regularly, we keep it shining; just like the regular contact with the human body may keep the jewels beautiful.

My dear friends in Christ, majority of us are inclined to forget God and his providence when we are well to do and in good condition. Do you remember when you thanked God last for good health, and for your plans/activities that run smoothly? Each and every one of us are guilty of forgetting God and failing to give Him thanks for his providence and favour. We come to Him often only when we are in trouble, sick or in need.  

Let us ask God today to “increase our faith in Him.”

Happy Sunday!