Twenty-seventh
Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) [Lk 17:5-10]
02.10.2022
Deep-rooted
Faith and Disinterested Service
Readings: (1) Hb 1:2-3;2:2-4 (2) 2 Tim 1:6-8.13-14
1. Theme in brief
Power of a
deep-rooted faith
2.
Focus Statement
Our faith has the power to do impossible things,
but it needs to be increased and deepened always as it is assailed by trials
and doubts; it has to be translated into faithful and disinterested service,
3.
Explanation of the text
In today’s gospel Jesus speaks about the power that comes from faith. He spoke these words in the context of the hard demands he made from his disciples to offer all their repentant offenders unconditional and unlimited forgiveness (17:3-4). The apostles must have realized that these demands required greater faith than what they had. Hence, they must have requested him to “increase” their faith at this juncture (17:5).
Jesus answered by saying that if they had faith of the ‘size of a mustard seed’ they could order even a mulberry tree to be ‘uprooted’ and be planted in the sea, it would obey them (17:6). His comparison of faith to a little mustard seed did not mean a small measure of faith, but great or firm faith, since in his culture (and in many other cultures even today) it was common to speak in opposite ( and exaggerated) terms to emphasise a point. Here Jesus seemed to refer to the quality or depth of faith than its quantity. Secondly, instead of comparing faith to a huge rock, he compared it to a seed because a rock could neither grow nor increase. On the contrary, if a seed were sown in the ground it would sprout and grow. Thus, he compared the power of faith to the power inherent in a tiny seed – a power to bring out a big tree. Thirdly, since mulberry tree was one of the trees that had very strong roots in Palestinian milieu, he compared its strength with the power of faith to tackle deep-rooted sins, habits and problems. Hence, according to him a deep-rooted faith has the power to solve deep-rooted problems. Jesus wanted to give this message: what seemed to be impossible could become possible when approached with faith.
In the second part of today’s gospel, Jesus described how his disciples had to put their faith into practice by rendering faithful and disinterested service. He began to explain this point by telling a parable of the “Unworthy Slave” (17:7-9) by using the same words as he used in parables of the Lost Sheep and Coin (in chapter 15): “Who among you.…” (17:7). Surely, in Palestinian culture of his time, no master would tell his slave to eat a hot meal and take rest when he returned home after a whole day’s hard work (17:7). Instead, though the slave came home tired at the end of the day, it was natural for the master to order him to prepare a meal for himself first; then wait on him while he ate and drank; then only the servant could eat at the end (17:8). Those days, nobody expected a master to congratulate or praise a slave for a job well done (17:9).
Jesus seemed to imply here that he was the master and
his disciples were like those ‘slaves’ serving their master faithfully. While
slaves were fully under obligation to obey their master, the master was
under no obligation to show gratitude to them or shower rewards on them. The slaves had no right to demand
anything from their master, either. After doing all the duties faithfully, they
could only consider themselves “worthless slaves” or “unworthy servants” who did only what
they were supposed to do (17:10). In this sense,
The Pharisees thought God was under obligation to reward them for their faithful observance of the Law and piety. On the contrary, Jesus taught that the main characteristic of faith was to approach God with a spirit of unworthiness, relying solely on his grace rather than on one’s merits. Jesus hinted at the wrong attitude of Pharisees who laid claim on God by citing the example of a slave who faithfully did what was commanded (17:7-8). The message is very clear that we must serve disinterestedly and unconditionally without looking for any reward. A disciple cannot make any claim for reward from God, in spite of his/her life-long faithfulness. Salvation is God’s free gift.
4.
Application to life
Though our faith is God’s gift, we have to constantly pray
that it may grow
and
be deepened. The reason is
that it can become very shaky and weak when we are assailed by temptations,
doubts, trials, suffering, unfulfilled desires and expectations,
unanswered prayers, unjust treatment from others, incurable illnesses, sudden
accidents, calamities and death. That is why, as the disciples did, we should
always pray humbly to the Lord that he may increase and deepen our little faith, so that
we are able to uproot the deeply rooted doubts of faith.
Faith is the greatest force or power we posses. The problems of life which seem to be impossible to solve, the sufferings which seem to be impossible to bear, and the tasks that seem so difficult to do, become possible for a person of strong faith. It is faith that gives us patience, perseverance, determination and endurance. Yes, faith has the power to uproot even deeply rooted sins and addictions. If you doubt, just listen to testimonies of those who get converted from addictive habits such as alcohol and drugs with the power of faith and surrender to God. Listen also to the testimonies of those who get healed from their incurable diseases or suicidal tendencies. In your life, was there any time when you thought you would never be able to do a difficult work, or come out of a bad habit, or face agonising situation, or live with an unbearable person, were able due to constant prayer with deep faith and trust in God? Think of many married couples who can decide to stay together in spite of unbearable differences and refuse to get separated or go for divorce; or the terminally ill persons who are able to accept their illness by sheer act of surrender to God’s will and their own will power to survive.
As I understand it pastorally (not theologically), faith has three dimensions or aspects: (1) faith-observance that includes all the religious rituals, rites, traditions, worship and devotions; (2) faith-knowledge or information that is acquired by an intellectual (theoretical) understanding of the truths of faith through personal reading, catechism classes, religious instructions, seminars, theological courses, homilies and conferences; and (3) faith-surrender of our life into God’s hands by allowing him to do what he wants with us and submitting ourselves to his holy will. Though the first two dimensions of faith are also important, if our faith is confined only to them, it will not be able to ‘uproot trees’, or as other evangelists put it in their gospels ‘move mountains’ (Mt 17:20; Mk 11:23). In order to move mountains, we need to move from mere practice of rituals like lighting candles and burning incense sticks (faith-observance), and knowing all the answers to catechism questions (faith-knowledge), to a deeper surrender and submission to God.
A total surrender of oneself into the hands of God with the attitude of permitting him to do what he wants with us; to take us where he wants to take and to give what he wants to give; certainly has the power to “move mountains” and “uproot trees.” That is to say, it has the power to overcome fears, tensions and anxieties caused by mountainous problems and to overcome deep-rooted sins and bad habits or addictions. It has the power to drive out so many superstitions, such as deep-rooted belief in witchcraft, sorcery and black magic that exists even within Christian communities in various parts of the world. The main reason for these superstitions is that the faithful are not able to face the problem of evil (such as misfortunes, calamities, sickness, suffering and sudden death) and overcome fear of the unknown with the power of faith, even after having a faith-history of hundreds of years. We should be convinced that the power of faith that comes from a total surrender to God in times of these trials is the only way to cast out the imaginary ‘demons’ that torment people who believe I them in such situations.
Faith and God’s Kingdom – the main theme of Christ’s teaching
and preaching – are closely related. Jesus’ understanding of the Kingdom of God
involves God’s total authority, lordship or rule over our lives. Faith is
nothing but wholehearted submission to God’s rule of love. This sort of
surrender motivates a believer to work for God’s Kingdom as a humble servant
without expecting any reward – leaving rewards fully to God’s grace
and mercy. The question is whether we have that much faith that draws us to
Christ in such a way that we are willing to dedicate ourselves to work for his
main project, i.e. the
Jesus wants to tell us that our faith is increased when we become loyal and dutiful servants of our Master. It is increased when we put it into practice by serving others selflessly without expecting any rewards/ appreciation/ recognition or a “well-done” pat on our backs. After doing a thankless or unrewarded service (not only in terms of money but also in terms of appreciation), if somebody is able to say this – "We are unworthy servants (literally, “worthless slaves”); we have done only what we ought to have done" (17:10) – surely it is a sign of greater and deeper faith. It means, we are like servants who deserve no credit at all. Today Jesus once again invites us to translate our faith into life-long service. There is neither reward nor retirement in Christian life. Actually, we never finish our service. We can never have the satisfaction of having done enough as far as service to God and humanity is concerned.
Further, Jesus tells us that we must render our service unconditionally and disinterestedly. Though often we have to serve out of compulsion (in workplaces and at home), we must set apart at least a small portion of our time to serve freely out of sheer love, and for no reward. Today’s message leads us to question whether all our services are also like a business contract: help for help, visit for visit, gift for gift, etc. Are all our services to neighbours, friends, relatives and acquaintances motivated by expectation of rewards in terms of money, things, name, etc., or we do some services just out of love without expecting anything in return. After serving God and humanity all these years, we have no right to boast of our achievements or claim a name for ourselves, since we have done only our duty. We are to examine ourselves whether our social or church service is motivated by the desire to earn prestige and self-promotion. Sometimes our only reward for social or church service may be opposition, criticism, or outright hatred by some extremist, anti-social and powerful groups when we side with the poor.
In Luke’s gospel we find Jesus associating faith with unworthiness in a number of instances. Faith works only when we consider ourselves unworthy of God’s grace and trust only in his mercy. Take for example, the Roman centurion’s dear slave was healed at the point of death because he confessed his unworthiness to have Jesus under his roof, though the Jewish elders considered him worthy because of his generosity towards them (7:1-10). Again, the faith of a sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume made her worthy to receive gifts of salvation and peace, whereas Simon the host who thought he was most worthy found himself unworthy of such a grace (7:36-50).
Finally, faith and prayer are also closely related. That is why in Luke’s gospel the request of the apostles to teach them how to pray (11:1) is related to their request to increase their faith in today’s gospel. It is impossible to pray without faith and when we pray our faith is nourished and increased.
5.
Response to God's Word
What is the quality of our faith? Do we take care to nourish it through prayer and spiritual reflections? Do we allow superstitions acquired through our culture, such as belief in witchcraft or black magic, to predominate over our faith? Are all our social services motivated by expectation of rewards in terms of money, status and promotion? Do we do voluntary and free service with some ulterior motives? Do we serve grudgingly, or lovingly?
6.
A Prayer
What thanks can we render to you, O Lord for the precious gift of faith. We humbly ask you: “Lord, increase our faith”. When we are assailed by doubts and trials, be with us and never let us be separated from you. In deep faith we surrender our life to you and pray: “Lord, Do what you want with me. I am yours”. May our faith motivate us to render disinterested and faithful service till the end of our days without looking for reward or name and fame. Amen.
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