27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

October 6, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4

Psalm 95 “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1: 6—8, 13-14

Gospel reading according to Luke 17: 5-10

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Homily:  

Many of the disciples of Jesus became doubtful of him and of his teachings.  Many among his disciples left him and no longer followed him, for they cannot accept his teachings and the manner of his life - a poor life, a servant life.  They lost their faith in Jesus because they did not.understannd him.   Is this the way he selected the best disciples among many, telling harsh words and actions difficult to swallow and comprehend?   The mystery is truly hidden to those whose faith is weak, less or none.  Yet even the best among the best, the Apostles, they still have doubts toward Jesus, like for example Thomas, he doubted his resurrection.  Good Peter was around and said, “To whom shall we go? You have eternal life,” when Jesus said, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.” And the seventy-two disciples who went to mission and when the returned they reported what had happened to the demons and Jesus said, “I have seen the downfall of Satan like lightning from the sky”  “The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’.” (Luke 17: 5).  The disciples asked Jesus to intensify their faith in him for even they doubted whether he was the true Messiah sent by God the Father?  Was it true what he said (preach and teach) and done (the miracles)? Or was it the work of Satan (Beelzebub) of whom the Pharisees said, especially when he violated the Sabbath Law?   The disciples need to increase their faith in Jesus Christ to know him better and to learn from him all about heavenly things.

Jesus did not look on the sizes of our faith, whether it is big or small, high or deep, what are important to him are our belief and trust and confidence in and with him that is why he said, “The Lord replied, ‘If you have faith the size of mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you’.” (Luke 17: 6).  Even the size of mustard seed, the smallest among seeds, is our faith in him is more than enough to uproot mulberry tree and plant it in the sea.  This looks difficult to believe, uprooting a tree (mulberry), throw and plant it in a salty sea; but with the eyes of faith, belief and trust, it is possible, for nothing is impossible to those who believe.  This hard wood (people, attitudes, personality) will obey and follow our command despite we have small faith like the size of mustard seed.

Then, Jesus shifted his focus to the hardworking and industrious servant, who has faith to his master.  He does what his master tells him to do and he does it diligently.  He is truly a trustworthy servant.  Jesus wanted his disciples, we as well, to become hardworking and industrious and faithful servants of him.  Like himself a servant who obeys the will of God his Father, this servant did not endure his body pain and aches after long hours of plowing the field and/or tending the flock of sheep.  He even not rested after coming home and eaten his meal, on the one hand.  On the other hand, his master has had two options, whether he let him join and allow him to eat with him, upon his coming home.  “’Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?” (Luke 17: 7).  This master shows his appreciation to this industrious servant.  We may also ask ourselves, how do we appreciate our servant?  Is there a kind of master nowadays who allows his servant sit and join him in his meal?  How do we treat our kasambahay (household servants, domestic helpers)?  Do you allow your servant to eat together with you and your family members?  Do you consider him or her as human being and not as robot, machine or animal of burden that you can command one after another things to do?

Or are we like this same master but with indifferent attitudes towards his servant that after long hours of working, he demanded still his servant to serve him, especially his meal?  Would you not think he will not complain to cook and set the table and wait for him because he has not rested yet, that this servant did endure his body pain and aches after long hours of plowing the field and/or tending the flock of sheep, and hungry?  “’Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat.  Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.  You may eat and drink when I am finished?’  (Luke 17: 8).  Because he is the master he can demand and command his servant to serve him even he is tired, exhausted and hungry, too. 

This same master, if he is a good employer, as in the first case, he can appreciate his servant for what he is doing however big or small it is. “Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded’?”  (Luke 17: 9).  Or if he is a demanding master or employer, as in the second case, still the same, as servant he or she should do whatever his master is demanding from him or her, because he/she is a servant, nothing more and nothing less. 

It is the loyalty of the servant is required to become a truly and faithful servant.  Whichever master we have, the good or demanding master, what is important, we as servants, that are disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do whatever he commanded to us with sincerity, truthfulness, industry inspite the size of our faith in him. “’So should it be with you.  When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do’.”  (Luke 17: 10).  Like the servant in the story of Jesus, we too must do whatever the master wants us to do for we are just servants in his Kingdom.  We can say again, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do,” in spite of our faith is like the size of a mustard seed.