October 2, 2022

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14 Lk 17:5-10

GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE

GROW: The prophet Habakkuk lived seven centuries before Christ, yet his words could well be ours today: “I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene.” Do we sometimes feel as though strife in our communities, and even within our own families, is more than we can handle? Like the prophet, we may ask, “How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen.” Indeed, we may feel our prayers are not being answered. Perhaps it is simply that they are not “answered” in the manner and timeframe in which we wish they would be. Although “God’s time” and his plan for our lives may seem mysterious or discouraging, it is by continuing to bring our concerns to God in prayer that we can actually help our faith grow and mature. We see countless examples of people who remain faithful in spite of hardship, misfortune and loss. Let us take time today, as the disciples did, to pray and ask Jesus to “increase our faith.” In simply turning to the Lord, we exhibit faith that, like a tiny mustard seed, has great power and can be a source of strength to ourselves and those around us. It is in faith in Christ that we find hope.

GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT

GO: I find today’s Gospel reading so reassuring. Even just a tiny speck of faith can move mountains. Or, in this case, uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea! Working for a Catholic magazine, I’m privileged to write about people with a deep and abiding faith, one they freely share with others through their example and by sharing their stories. I bet we can all point to a friend or family member who exhibits the kind of faith so strong that it rubs off on others they encounter. Jesus reminds us that even a little faith can have a huge impact – not only on our lives but on others. We can share it by offering to pray for those facing a challenge, talking to God when we feel overwhelmed, and opening our hearts to the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the faces of the people we encounter each day.

PRAYER: Even the prophet Habakkuk and the disciples experienced "off" days where faith eluded them. But the psalmist reminds us to keep showing up in prayer: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Especially in moments of despair, bring your concerns to God in prayer.