27th Sunday in the Ordinary Time
2nd September 2022 (Sunday)
Faith in faithfulness!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ we are on the 27th Sunday in the Ordinary Time. Today's readings invite us to reflect on our faith. Smallest size of our faith can make unexpected things in our life. Readings affirms that the righteous shall live by his faith.With this small understand in our mind, Let us read the readings and reflection of 27th Sunday in the ordinary time.
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For more certainity the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. And the Lord answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end-it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7abc, 7d-9 (R. 7d, 8a)
Response: O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Beloved: I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Gospel Reading: Luke 17:5-10
At that time: The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea', and it would obey you. "Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterwards you will eat and drink'? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.
Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}
Main Theme: Faith in faithfulness!
Indicative: Faith is a matter of interior power that moves oneself and others and also changes the life conditions{alertWarning}
1. “Faith” - In all three readings of the day, faith is the central theme. The first reading affirms, “the righteous shall live by his faith”. The second reading exhorts, “fan into flame the gift of God (faith)”. And in the gospel, the apostles request Jesus, “Increase our faith”, and in response, Jesus teaches them about faith, its power, its nature and its implications.
2. What is the content of faith? In the light of the second reading, it is “the pattern of the sound words that we have” received as our spiritual heritage. It is “the good deposit entrusted” to us. It is “the gospel by the power of God.”
3. In the light of the first reading, faith is the life-giving principle of the righteous because “the righteous shall live by his faith.” In the light of the gospel, faith is the power that would make even the tree obey our command because Jesus says, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, say to this mulberry tree ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.
4. Our concern here is not what wonders and miracles faith can do with its power. Certainly, faith is powerful and can cause wondrous effects. But the real quality and power of faith are not in terms of exercising control over the course of the events. The focus is on what faith can do to the person and his life.
5. Faith is seen in what it does to the person and life. It is manifested and testified in faithfulness. This faithfulness indicates a way of life that is in conformity with the deposit of one’s faith. Accordingly, fidelity implies not nurturing a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control. A faithful person will not be so powerless as to be a weakling. He will try to be firm and steady.
6. A faithful person will be filled and guided by love and not hatred or resentment. A person of faith and faithfulness will be self-disciplined exercising an adequate degree of restraint and control. He will not easily succumb to any passion and urge for self-indulgence and gratification.
7. A faith-full person will constantly guard the good deposit entrusted to us. It becomes the driving force to live righteously. He would strive to bear testimony about our Lord. Further, a faithful person will never slack in his zeal but constantly “fan into flame the gift of God. Lack of fervour and fidelity cannot go together.
8. Now the ultimate test and sign of faithfulness is dutifulness and service. Faith and faithfulness translate themselves into humble and unassuming service. That is why Jesus suddenly uses the metaphor of a servant while speaking about faith. This indicates that true faithfulness is dutifulness in service. Service is not a favour that we do at our will and convenience. It is a duty of doing God’s will. It is not an option but an obligation.
Imperative: To have faith is to be faithful. To be faithful is to be dutiful. To be dutiful is to be serviceable. We are duty-bound to serve. We have no reason to take credit for our faithfulness because it is part of our faith{alertWarning}
Video Reflection
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