Faith teaches how to read in God’s watch.
October 6 2019: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
An Indian proverb says, “A person consists of his faith.
Whatever is his faith, even so is he.” And Another proverb adds, “Faith has no
eyes; he who asks to see has no faith.”
Life teaches us that, to man belongs the watch, and to God
the time. While we see all things in number and numerically, God instead sees
them in terms of perfection. God has the perfect timing; never early, never
late. It always asks from us a little patience and a whole lot of faith to see
as God sees. But for the truth, it is always worth the wait. Thus, the French proverb,
“there is no miracle for he who knows not how to wait faithfully.” Faith makes
all things possible. Without faith, even the possible turns into impossibility.
Man lives by faith, not by sight.
Today’s liturgy is a catechism on faith, patience and
obedience. In the first reading, through the prophet Habakkuk, God exhorts his
people to not give up when going through tribulations and hardships. Each one of
us will easily find himself in the reasoning of the people of God while
confronted to trials. When we pass through difficulties, we think that God has
forsaken us or that he is too quiet, a kind of playing the deaf ear to our
pleas. At least one time, in each one’s life, we got to reason loudly that way,
“How long, O LORD? I cry for help but
you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not
intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?” I am a
Christian, why then do I have to suffer, while the pagans and the none
believers prosper?
The reality is that, God has never been deaf to our cries.
We are those who are always on rush, wanting everything instantaneously, and
therefore we lose hope and give up when things happen not in our timing. God
acts always on his proper and perfect time. We only need patience and faith to
see him at work. Thus, his answer through the prophet Habakkuk, “Write down the
vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the
vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.” Faith is
all that it takes to wait for God’s timing. And the Prophet adds, “The rash one
has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.”
Paul in the second reading recommends that same faith to
Timothy. As Christ followers, we must stand and hold firm to our faith, no
matter the afflictions and adversities. We have to be ready to give witness of
our faith and testify of it without shame. In fact, it is in the midst of
trials and flames that faith proves its authenticity and activism.
Many are those who claim belonging to Christ only when all
things go well for them. But when come adversities and trials, they are shaken
and seeking anywhere for solution. Our churches are filled with Palm Sunday and
Easter Sunday Christians who have a fierce hatred for Good Friday. They are Christians
who love Christ and hate the Cross. They want miracles without tribulations. Sadly,
the reality of our societies shows it well. Miracles Churches, New Christian
Communities and Sects are growing day after day. Because there, the preaching is
all about the Gospel of Prosperity. The schedule from Monday to Sunday is made
of miracles crusade: Monday, crusade for those looking for husband or wife. Tuesday,
prayer for those in search of work. Wednesday prayer for the sick who fear to
go to hospital. Thursday and Friday exorcism and deliverance. Friday Night to Saturday,
prayer for lazy students who spent the week without studying and hoping for
miraculous touch from God in order to succeed to their exams. Sunday, whole day
thanksgiving: The Pastor’s Day or the empty wallet’s day. And sadly, all Christians
are running there.
We forget that it is only in the hardship and through the
crosses that we can truly prove our belonging to Christ. And Jesus in the
Gospel will insist on the reality of faith which does not go without trials. The
Lord tells his followers that faith and true belonging to him and to God the
Father is a powerful weapon capable to bring about many great things, such as
miracles. Our belief in the Lord is not something which entitles us to any
rights. It is not because I come to church every Sunday, I know and sing loudly
the Credo, or I am member of Church groups and associations that I will think
God has any obligation vis-à-vis of me. Genuine faith, instead, will help us
understand that God does all things according to his purpose and on his time. Our
relation with him is not a kind of give and receive, a ‘donnant-donnant’ as there
say in French. In our relation with God, “We are unprofitable servants; we have
done what we were obliged to do.” Ours is to patiently obey in God and put our
whole trust in him. And God, in return, at his right time will shower us with
his blessings.
Our call, the true Christian vocation, is to be
faithful servants. In this, nothing to brag about. We must simply do our best in
all the way possible to be good disciples, firmly rooted in our faith and
witness to Jesus at all times, no matter what it would cost us.
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