JUST HAVE A STRONG FAITH

In our 1st. Reading we have an obscure prophet whose personality seems to be as awful as his name. He is HABAKKUK. But I would have wished to meet him because of his audacity to stand up before God and complain, “How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!” Then, seeing all the violence and misery around, he dared to question how God is governing the world. “I cry out to you, ‘VIOLENCE!’ but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin, why must I look at misery?”

Habakkuk may well represent a good number of us when everything seems to be going wrong, when we feel that God is distant and does not seem to care about our problems. For example, why should innocent and hopeless people experience terrible sufferings, from many strong hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other calamities? Concerning violence, why do godless people perpetuate terrorism and miseries with their crimes? In effect, God’s answer is, “Be patient with ME, I am the MASTER. I HAVE A PLAN. What I ask of you is to have FAITH!” This Sunday, the FAITH God asked is not the kind we ordinarily understand as believing there is GOD. What God means by FAITH is a loyalty and trust that is practical, a steadfastness in the midst of day to day trials and difficulties.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, the apostles ask our Lord: “Increase our faith.” The Apostles, whom Jesus had sent forth to preach, were apparently overwhelmed by the demands of their work and dejected by the people’s cold response. Our Lord replies, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘be uprooted – and it would obey you.’ (Lk. 17:5)

It does not follow that Faith will give us the power to move trees literally. But Faith will give us the power to cope with difficulties, overcome obstacles and attempt great things for the Lord. Remember, Faith alone or trust in God alone is not enough. As much as we must implore God’s help so must we do our part and exert efforts to solve our problem, whether they be personal or social.

The American writer Robert Ross once said, “People ask God why He doesn’t do something about the homeless and the starving people in the world.” But they don’t realize that God is asking them the same question? FAITH is a GIFT offered by God to us. Faith is a human response to God’s initiative in the context of a relationship with God. God makes the first move, then we make a personal response to God’s personal initiative. We cooperate with God. Amen!

#147. A STORY OF A ‘FATHER’S FAITH’: One night a house caught fire and a boy was forced to climb up to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump I’ll catch you.” However, all the boy could see between himself and his father was fire, smoke and blackness. As can be imagined, the boy was filled with panic. His father yelled again, “Jump, son! I’ll catch you.” But the boy protested, “Papa, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you, have FAITH, and that’s all that matters.”

In life as in the story, we many times cannot see God the Father because of the fire, smoke and blackness which may symbolize our sufferings, our disappointments and our trials. But let us trust in the Lord because He sees us and that is all that matters. IN GOD WE TRUST ALWAYS!

This Sunday is Respect Life Sunday. On the 4th, we have the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Franciscan Family (O.F.M. Cap.) and other Franciscan Order. He was also patron of ecologists and of Italy. Blessing of animals on Saturday, October 8th at 9:30 am. On the 5th, we remember St. Faustina Kowalska, Virgin and Venerated as the “Apostle of the Divine Mercy”. On the 6th, we have the optional memorials of St. Bruno, Priest, and Bl. Marie Rose Durocher, Virgin (USA). On the 7th, we have the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and it the First Friday of the Month. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin. God Bless!

Your Priest-Servant and Parochial Administrator,

Fr. Reggie