[Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C]<\/div>\n
In the reading today the prophet Habakkuk is discouraged. \u00a0He is despairing and losing his faith. \u00a0Things are not unfolding as expected so he complains to God. \u00a0He implores God in the midst of a terrible situation, full of violence, strife and oppression.<\/p>\n
God doesn\u2019t do as Habakkuk asks, getting rid of the violence and strife. \u00a0Though these continue, the words of God greatly encourage the prophet, reminding him to hold on to his faith and to be patient: \u00a0\u201cThe vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, and it will not be late. \u00a0The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.<\/p>\n
In the midst of turmoil, God asks for faithfulness, for patience and for integrity. \u00a0In the midst of turmoil, the appropriate response is faith, to trust that God is in control.<\/p>\n
But this is so difficult! \u00a0We like to resolve problems immediately and resolve them our way. \u00a0We like to have control. \u00a0We want things to be dealt with efficiently. \u00a0It is difficult to wait while God\u2019s plan unfolds. \u00a0It is difficult to keep our faith in God strong when things don\u2019t go as we hoped. \u00a0We despair, blame God and some even consult mediums that take their hard-earned money in attempts to uncover secret information or to control situations.<\/p>\n
Our desire to control situations and to control others, I believe, is the root of much anger, anxiety and depression. \u00a0God invites us to trust, to have faith in Him. \u00a0We don\u2019t want to trust, we want to control. \u00a0This desire to \u2018be like God\u2019 and to control leaves us so unhappy because this desire will never be satisfied. It leads to anger, anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n
We can kick and scream all we want, but the reality remains that we only have control over very few things. \u00a0We must recognize what few things we can control and allow God to take care of the rest. \u00a0Then we can say, \u201cwe are unprofitable servants; we have done all we were obliged to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are no words more liberating than these: \u201cLord, I have done everything I can do, though limited; you take care of the rest because I can\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0There is no prayer more liberating than the serenity prayer, \u201c God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why allow anxiety infect our minds? \u00a0Why allow anger disturb our peace? \u00a0Why allow depression crush the joy that comes from placing our faith in God? \u00a0God wants us to let go and be free.<\/p>\n
All of us, we are God\u2019s servants. \u00a0Our duty is to accept and do His will each day of our lives. \u00a0Like the servant in the Gospel passage who was ready to serve his master even after a long day at work, we too must be ready at all times to serve God.<\/p>\n
We do not need to know the big picture nor do we need to have everything figured out to be faithful servants. \u00a0A faithful servant lives one day at a time, trusting that his master will lead him to the correct destination. \u00a0One day at a time God\u2019s plan for our lives unfolds. \u00a0If I do not know what will happen tomorrow, it\u2019s OK, as long as I am being faithful today. \u00a0If I am faithful today, when tomorrow comes I will also be faithful then.<\/p>\n
We must not be like Habakkuk who grew discouraged and despaired, on the other hand, we are called to trust, to have faith, that one day at a time God\u2019s plan will unfold and that we will see greater things than a mulberry tree being uprooted and planted in the sea.<\/p>\n
God works slowly but surely. \u00a0Over time, mountains move. \u00a0Over time, hearts are changed.<\/p>\n
We must place our trust in our merciful God who has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power, love and self-control. \u00a0We must trust that his plan or vision presses on to fulfillment and will not disappoint. \u00a0If it delays, we must wait patiently, for it will surely come and it will not be late. \u00a0All in His time and in His manner.<\/p>\n
Pictures are mine, all rights reserved<\/p>\n
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[Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C] In the reading today the prophet Habakkuk is discouraged. \u00a0He is despairing and losing his faith. \u00a0Things are not unfolding as expected so he complains to God. \u00a0He implores God in the midst of a terrible situation, full of violence, strife and oppression. God doesn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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