Habakkuk 1:12-2:4 / Matthew 17: 14-20
Habakkuk questions God: God promised that justice would prevail.
The Book of Habakkuk is nearly as short as the Book of
Nahum. Habakkuk prophesied shortly before the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple
(587 B.C.). He wrestled with the same question Job did: Why do good
people seem to suffer and evil people appear to prosper?
God answers Habakkuk by saying that although evil nations,
like Babylonia, appear to prosper now, the countdown for their ultimate
destruction is already in progress. It’s just a matter of time. The Book of
Habakkuk ends with the prophet expressing his faith in God, even though God
and God’s justice seem to be far away and slow in coming.
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Do we sometimes wonder about God’s fairness to people? How
do we resolve the questions this raises?
“Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to his love,
and the future to his providence (St. Augustine)
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Under normal circumstances, we would not say anything rash or brash. When things are under control, we would surely be more logical and rational. But when things start to get rough and we see injustice and oppression and evil happening before our eyes, we begin to search anxiously for answers and solutions.
And being a people of faith, we will surely pray. Yet when God doesn't seem to answer our prayer or seems like He is taking forever to do so, then God becomes the target of our frustration and criticism.
That was what the prophet Habakkuk did and his laments and
complaints against God are even recorded in the Holy Bible!
Because we believe that the wicked man will eventually
stumble and fall, but the upright man will live by his faithfulness. That is
God's answer to us, as well as His promise to us. We need to have faith in God
who loves us and cares for us. In the gospel, Jesus emphasized on faith in God
in all that we do. With faith in God, nothing would be impossible. Because with
God nothing is impossible.
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Saturday of 18th Week of Ordinary Time
A GRAIN OF FAITH
Introduction
The prophet Habakkuk assures the people of God. He says:
Even if you do not understand God’s ways, remain faithful to God, for he is a
God on whom you can rely. If we look back to the Bible and to history, even
recent history about persons we have known or who are perhaps still alive, even
discreet, humble people, but people of faith who take the word of Jesus
seriously, we see that with them God can do very great things, can do the
impossible. But we must really believe. Even a grain of faith can work
miracles. Let us ask for this grain of faith.
Opening Prayer Faithful God, we thank you for our
faith, which we have received from you as a gift to be developed with your help
Make our faith grow day after day. Let it give meaning to our life and express
itself in love and justice. Let it bring us joy and understanding and make us
very close to you and to people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Commentary There is a tendency to quote frequently a
few well-known verses of minor prophets like Habakkuk. Such is the case with
the final verse in today’s reading from the prophet. The conduct of human
beings is so often reprehensible; people exploit others for their own gain.
People worship their own industry and eliminate others without mercy. In
response, the Lord advises the prophet to consign the prophetic vision to
writing. “The righteous live by their faith.” The vision contains a timeless
truth. We err if we think that evil will last forever or never be brought to
justice. Wherever there is deceit and the absence of integrity, clear
boundaries will be set up. Evildoing will meet its recompense. On the other hand,
where there is a just person, life is assured. It is faith that determines the
just person’s conduct. It is the good that ultimately triumphs. Jesus in the
Gospel today assures us that faith can move mountains. If the disciples believe
strongly enough, anything is possible. Goodness sometimes emerges in unexpected
forms. Just when we believe that affluent countries think too little of the
poor and diseased people of the world, important industrialists turn over funds
from their earnings—at times in the billions of dollars—to alleviate the
world’s pain. We are distressed at evil, but we must never dismiss the good.
Points to Ponder Evil’s presence in the world The
ultimate triumph of good. A justice that leads to life
Intercessions – That the Church may bring the light
of faith where there is darkness and indifference, hope where there is fatalism
and despair, love where there is hatred and strife, we pray: – That leaders,
prophets, witnesses of faith and all others who have the task of keeping alive
our hope in a better world, may be guided by the Holy Spirit, we pray: – That
those who are discouraged by trials, by their doubts and fears, may keep
believing and hoping in a God who brings everything to a good end, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts God our Father, we firmly
believe that Jesus your Son will change into himself these simple gifts of
bread and wine, so that he might be with us with all his strength and love. Help
us to believe with all that is in us that he is also with us in everyday life as
the Lord of our lives and our friend, who gives meaning to all we do. Let him
make our faith a way of life that gives you all honor and praise, now and for
ever.
Prayer after Communion Lord our God. accept our
thanks for giving us Jesus to revive and strengthen our faith. Reassure us that
he stays with us in the cares and the heat of the day, and that, with him
walking by our side, everything becomes possible. Keep this faith and hope
alive in us and help us to bear witness to it through him who is with us
always, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing “If you had faith the size of a tiny seed.”
It is perhaps good that at times our faith is tried and tested through
difficulties and questions, so as not to become complacent. Let us place our
trust in the love and concern of God, with the blessing of almighty God, the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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Saint Dominic,
Dominic might have lived his whole life in that monastery if he had not gone with his bishop to northern Europe in 1204. As they travelled, Dominic saw that many people were following heretics, or false teachers. One heresy was Albigensianism, named for the French town of Albi where it had begun. These who followed this heresy taught that people do not have a free will. They taught that marriage was bad, but suicide and the killing of elderly or fatally ill people could be good. Because these heretics lived strict lives with little comfort, people believed them.
Dominic saw that the Catholics sent by the pope to preach against the heresies lived in comfort. The people would not accept their teaching because their lives did not support what they taught. Dominic, his bishop, and three Cistercian monks went from city to city preaching the truth of Christ, using the Bible. They went on foot, depending on others for food and a place to sleep. Soon people returned to the faith—not only because of what these preachers said, but because of how they lived.
In 1206 Dominic began an order of religious women. At one point the bishop died, and the three monks left Dominic. To make matters worse, war broke out between the heretics and some Church members. Dominic’s mission seemed to be failing. At this time he was greatly supported by the prayers and encouragement of the Sisters.
By 1215 a few men had joined Dominic in his work of preaching. He founded the Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans. Dominic urged his members to study and to pray. Then they would be ready to preach. Dominic realized that to be true witnesses of the Gospel, Dominicans could not be wealthy. His followers also deeply loved the Blessed Virgin Mary and spread devotion to her through the rosary.
Dominic’s community was different from most because his friars traveled and preached instead of staying in their monastery. Dominic’s order tried to reach the well-educated who were deceived by heresy, while the Franciscans went to the poor and uneducated.
While St. Dominic was on a preaching mission through northern Italy, he died, only six years after he had founded his community.
Dominic was able to draw the members of this community together and inspire them to love and forgive one another. He was outstanding for his love of truth, his clear thought, his organizing ability, and his sensitive, loving nature. For Dominic, love for people was part of his love for God.
