Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C 2025

Title

Living in the Midst of Scandal

Outline

The problem with evil is that it stumbles us from trust. It is a skandalon to our pistis.

Just as I was doing my exercises before sitting down at my computer I was listening to Ave Maria University’s Catholic Theology Show on “The Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering.” Evil in the world, especially that which we endure, can stumble us, at least damaging our trust in God and for many quenching their faith altogether. Habakkuk faced that looking at the violence in Judea and the strife and contention he suffered. He prayed fervently, but there seemed to be no answer. Then God speaks, “Yes, I am going to deal with that. The Chaldeans are coming.” And Habakkuk responds, “But they are worse, they are pagans worshipping their own might!” He waits for a response from God. Paul faced that, for not only was he at that time a prisoner of pagans but he will go on to say that “all Asia has turned away from me,” i.e. that his own converts were disowning him and the faith. How painful was that? Then Luke ch 17 starts with “Stumbling blocks will come,” that is occasions of scandal. And Jesus pronounces a woe on the one through whom they came, going on to say that if a brother sins against you seven times a day still forgive him, do not call to God for your pound of his flesh however much deserved. It is to this that in Luke the apostles respond, “Lord, increase our trust.” That is, our trust in you or perhaps our trust that you can run the world. We see around us the wreckage of those who lost their faith or at least compromised it fatally with less reason than this

The solution to this problem is patience and trust or simply, as in James, patient endurance

Habakkuk is told that the full vision will indeed take place, for it is trustworthy. Therefore he is to write it on tablets that will not deteriorate and wait. “The righteous shall live by his faith” or “by his trust.” That continued trust in and faithfulness towards God in the midst of adversity is the hallmark of the righteous. Timothy is reminded that he is heir to two previous generations of faith (only women are mentioned probably because they were married to pagan men). He had also received the Spirit at his baptism or ordination (scholars differ on which) and so he is to live it, not “a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” Don’t be ashamed of me as those in Asia are, nor be ashamed to testify to our Lord, a crucified criminal in Roman eyes. Share in suffering for the gospel “in the power of God.” Trust God. It will get harder. But God has given you in the Spirit the power to stand firm. And Jesus is hardly comforting when he says that any faith, even that like a mustard seed, would be enough to work the miracle of standing firm. Then, using the example of a wealthy householder with slaves, he says in effect, “When you have worked hard and done your duty do not expect consolations, but rather more service.” “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ” Think of that when you come in from a hard day’s teaching.

Sisters, keep this in mind, for it is a theme throughout the scriptures

There is evil in the world and even in our communities. We pray about it, but God’s timing is not as ours. We might wait decades to see his solution to some things, as Abraham did for the promised of a son, or generations for others, since Abraham was long dead before Israel inherited the land. Part of this is for our good, as the military puts recruits through tough drills or as a coach does to his team so they will win the battle or the game. Or as the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal do to their novices, sending them on a 21 day outdoor canoe and foot trek in February. Part of this waiting is so that God can do the full good he intends. Endurance means calling on the Spirit to strengthen you so that you wait for his promise and as you wait keep your trust in God. It may take more than your lifetime, as I think Job said, “Though he slay me yet will I trust him.” (KJV) And all the time, while consolations may come, keep the mentality that they are not something you have earned, for we will have only done our duty. Then you will see miracles happen indeed, for God will have increased your faith and will bring you through the trial perfecting you in the process and you will enter into his kingdom alongside Paul and the other saints who have endured. As St Francis of Assisi is said to have said close to his death, "Let us begin again, for until now we have done nothing.”

First Reading Habakkuk 1:2–3, 2:2–4 Response Psalm 95:8 Psalm Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9 Second Reading 2 Timothy 1:6–8, 13–14 Gospel Acclamation 1 Peter 1:25 Gospel Luke 17:5–10 Catholic Daily Readings (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2009).

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear? Or cry to thee “Violence!” and thou wilt not save? 3 Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. [4 So the law is slacked and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice goes forth perverted. 5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 6 For lo, I am rousing the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize habitations not their own. 7 Dread and terrible are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Yea, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 9 They all come for violence; terror of them goes before them. They gather captives like sand. 10 At kings they scoff, and of rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, for they heap up earth and take it. 11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god! 12 Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them as a judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established them for chastisement. 13 Thou who art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on wrong, why dost thou look on faithless men, and art silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? 14 For thou makest men like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15 He brings all of them up with a hook, he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. 17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and mercilessly slaying nations for ever? Chapter 2 1 I will take my stand to watch, and station myself on the tower, and look forth to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.] 2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3 For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith. Catholic Biblical Association (Great Britain), The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (New York: National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, 1994), Hab 1:2–2:4.

Epistle 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. 4 As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. 6 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, [ 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, 10 and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. ] 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; 14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Catholic Biblical Association (Great Britain), The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (New York: National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, 1994), 2 Ti 1:1–14.

Gospel Luke 17:5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 “Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ” Catholic Biblical Association (Great Britain), The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (New York: National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, 1994), Lk 17:5–10.