Reflection for the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Psalm 95;  Timothy 1:6-8; St. Luke 17:5-10

Beloved, I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have….

We may have suffered from very big disappointments in our lives, like the prophet Habakkuk did.  This first Mass reading from the Old Testament shows that the problem of evil has been on people’s minds for a very long time.

Habakkuk’s complaint was about two pieces of bad news.  First, the evils committed by his own people of Judah who were unfaithful to God, and second, the threat of an evil power being sent by God to punish them.

The reading is an urgent lament by Habakkuk for God to listen to him and respond with action:  “I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene.”  What the prophet described to God was a chaotic situation which alarmed him, but his very cry showed that he had faith.  He knew that God could take care of it, so he asked for help.

If there are personal, frustrating situations in our lives similar to this one, or some on a larger scale that we know about, our reactions might be the same as this prophet’s.  “How long, O Lord?  I cry for help but you do not listen!”  The fact that a person asks “How long?” shows that he wants God to help NOW.

So, how does his God respond?  He commands Habakkuk to wait.  God told the prophet, “The vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint.”  In other words, God is all-powerful. He has things in hand and will right the wrongs at the best time for all concerned.

God can respond to our complaints and pleas the same way.  Habakkuk’s God is our God.  We can decide to trust Him in the middle of anguish, as Jesus trusted His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The Lord’s “vision” is the best for us.  He is trustworthy.  He is only and always Love.

If we trust God’s plan and timing, we will continue to pray even while we experience the sorrows of our trials.  Remember, God told Habakkuk, “If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.”

We join our prayers to yours for the happy resolution of any trials you may be experiencing now.

The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

~ Habakkuk 2:4 ~