Just Believe!

First Reading:  Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4

Then Yahweh answered me and said, 'Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read. For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and it will not lie; although it may take some time, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long. 'You see, anyone whose heart is not upright will succumb, but the upright will live through faithfulness.'

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1Timothy 6:11-16

That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift of God that you possess through the laying on of my hands. God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to our Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but share in my hardships for the sake of the gospel, relying on the power of God

Keep as your pattern the sound teaching you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, look after that precious thing given in trust.

Gospel:  Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' The Lord replied, 'If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey you.

'Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, "Come and have your meal at once"? Would he not be more likely to say, "Get my supper ready; fasten your belt and wait on me while I eat and drink. You yourself can eat and drink afterwards"? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, "We are useless servants: we have done no more than our duty." '

Reflection
By Rosalinda N. Markell

Sometimes we may say, "I do have faith but it is so weak."  Dear brothers and sisters, there is no measuring rod that can measure faith.  Even the smallest amount of faith is enough for God.  For all that He asks is that we believe, just believe! The faith as small as a mustard seed can bring us the love of God. It can move mountains!    

Again we may ask ourselves, "We wonder if we have the right kind of faith?"  All faith, any faith in God is the right kind of faith.  The faith we need is the faith that God lives in our hearts.

    

We recently had a new saint in the person of St Teresa of Calcutta. She was known for her charitable works that she earned the moniker "The Living Saint" when she was still alive. Little do we know that she experienced spiritual doubt and depression which she described as a "dark night of the soul". Mind you, this was not one off, but lasted for 50 years.

And yet she carried on with her ministry. She remained faithful for, according to her, it is not being successful that matters.What matters is being faithful. 

We all go through trials, heartaches, and pains in life and as the days go by, we may become tired, our spirits low. It is then that temptations confront us, praying becomes harder to do and we ask if God still sees or hears our pleas. But God is always there when we need Him, He is always with us. No matter how weary we become, how heavy the burden we carry and how empty we feel, full of misery and pain, there will still be joy in God. 

We just have to keep the faith.

Prayer

O God our Father, how great and wonderful You are! It is true that we do not always understand the reasons for the many things happening to us and our dear loved ones.  Nor the pains and all the evils happening around us, and all the hard times that come to us all.  Dear Father, do not abandon us!  For deep down in our hearts, we know how hard it would be to go through life without You! So please, dear Father, help us grow our faith in You. Please help us to always remember that You are near us and ready to help and protect us. Help us to have faith, dear Father, we do believe in You.  Please have mercy on us Your children.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.