Faith and Trust: Reflections on the Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4
Psalm 95
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Luke 17:5-10

Faith and trust go hand-in-hand. Having faith in something, like the laws of nature (e.g., gravity) means that you trust that when action A (letting go of an object) happens, by natural law, action B occurs (the object drops toward the center of gravity). Faith in the Lord is a common theme in today’s readings and therefore also the need to trust in Him.

In the reading from the minor prophet Habakkuk, the Israelites are in denial about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean (Babylonian) king who is growing in power (see the intervening passages between the chapter 1 and that of chapter 2). Rather than trust in God, they turn to the Egyptians, who are unable to contain Nebuchadnezzar. The result will be the first of three Babylonian exiles.

Habakkuk is crying out to the Lord over the coming battles and defeat. He knows that the cause is Judah turning away from the Lord and looking to others (e.g., the Egyptians) for help. As we have read throughout the Old Testament, God wants the Israelites to rely on Him, providing victory for them even when outnumbered, provided they trusted in Him. Here God tells Habakkuk to have patience and faith, and trust in the Lord.

God promises that the “vision” will be fulfilled. However, it will be fulfilled in God’s time. We tend to be impatient with Him which shows a lack of trust and faith. We need to acknowledge that He will always carry out His promises, but He will choose the time for its best effects. We learned in other parts of the Bible, God’s time is not our time. As noted by St. Peter and the Psalms, “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4)

God also reminds Habakkuk of the problem of impatience and the importance of faith (to the end): “The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.”

The responsorial psalm also appeals to faith and trust in the Lord. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” If God is talking to you, open your heart and listen. Fr. Larry Richards likes to say, even if you are praying, when God speaks to you, shut up and listen. The psalmist explains the reasons for this call to faith. We owe God thanksgiving for everything, He is “the Rock of our salvation,” He made us, and “we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.” Just as in the New Testament, Jesus reminds us that He is the Good Shepherd, we see that God has always shepherded His people. It’s when we become lost sheep that problems arise.

St. Paul’s advice to Timothy in the second reading also refers to faith and trust in “the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my [Paul’s] hands.” This is how the Holy Spirit is imparted to others, by the laying on of hands. Furthermore, he tells Timothy to have courage because he has received “power and love and self-control” from the Holy Spirit. And so are we given these gifts by the Spirit. We are called to be bold, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice.” Recall how the apostles on Pentecost, after receiving the Holy Spirit, spoke out boldly and with confidence, converting thousands to Jesus Christ on that day alone. We are also called to emulate the apostles. We are not supposed to hide our faith, but live our faith outwardly, trusting in God to guide and protect us. To be truly Catholic requires boldness. As Jesus said often, “Do not be afraid.”

Paul also notes that this might not be easy and may involve suffering, but, as with Timothy, we are to “bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” “[T]he Holy Spirit that dwells within us” will help us to guard this trust and the faith and love we have received through Jesus.

The gospel reading starts right off with the question about faith: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Jesus then explains what can be accomplished with even a small amount of faith. He then explains the importance of doing our duty to the Master. This is also a lesson in humility. We are not equal to the Master, and so we should do what He commands. The servant should not expect special treatment for doing his job.

As we know from other teachings of Jesus, humility is essential for gaining eternity in Heaven. Pride takes us the other way. As Jesus came to serve, so must we. Thus we are given the example of the servant who looks after the Master. There is also a trusting relationship between the Master and the servant, just as there is a trusting relationship between God and His creation. And this is all brought together through faith.

“When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'" The Collegeville Bible Commentary (New Testament) sums up this part of the reading as follows: “If good work is expected of the servant as an ordinary part of his duties, why should the disciple of Jesus think faithful service is not a basic requirement of following the Master?”

Faith, trust, and humility enable us to carry out God’s will, which is our duty (and even our mission).