Cycle C - Year II:

2 October 2016: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read Luke 17:5-10

"Lord, increase our faith!"

The wise say that never to regret a day in our life. Because good days give happiness; bad days give us experience; worst days give lessons; and best days give us memories.

And regardless of what each day gives us..... it is really a new life to live.

So keep faith in humanity..... even in a world full of turmoil.

The Gospel proclamation this Sunday talks about "faith", and the very source of our faith, which is our faith in God Almighty.

The Apostles said to Jesus, "Lord, increase our faith!" And the Lord's response is for them to "have faith the size of a mustard seed."

So, what is "faith"?

Well, faith is not to have a better knowledge of our catechism and the Church dogma. Rather, faith is a much deeper and stronger trust and confidence that our God is near us always, even when we think He seems so far away sometimes, that our God takes care of us always. Faith starts with humility, making us feel small in the presence of our loving God, accepting Him with utter humility and trusting Him to care for all our needs.

Jesus' response to the Apostles about increasing their faith is the core message of the Gospel proclamation. Jesus teaches us that the efficacy of faith does not depend on its quantity, nor its size, not even its volume, but rather on the quality of our faith or its worth. Using an example of a tiny mustard seed, Jesus makes a point that even the smallest amount of faith can enable someone to do amazing things.

In practical life, our very faith will often be tested. Even when we have such a faith like a mustard seed, it does not mean that our Christian life will be free of all hardships and difficulty. While it is true that God assures us of His love and care, He also never promised a life free of pain, difficulties, sufferings, and even sudden and violent death. Let us not forget that even God did not spare His own Son from suffering in Calvary.

But the Good News is that with a deep faith and trust in Him, God has promised that we can endure pain and difficulties, that we can accept all our trials if and when they come, for the sake of making Jesus' message of love and salvation a reality even in our world full of turmoil.

For the greatest test of faith is when we don't get what we want and ask for, but still we are able to say at the end of each day...... "Thank You, Lord Jesus!"

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!