Nothing Will Be Impossible

August 9, 2008

Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live. Habakkuk 2:4

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Piety

Bless me, the me of little faith. Oh my Jesus, are you considering me as you lament the scarcity of my faith? We hunger for you to plant a seed in us that will grow into the flowering bush. We yearn for that bush which will create for us a place to dwell with you. We await you as we nourish our seeds of faith with your body and blood – the life-giving waters that make nothing seem impossible. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/080908.shtml

According to the New American Bible introduction, the Hebrew Bible prophecy of Habakkuk dates the years 605-597 B.C., or between the great Babylonian victory at Carchemish and Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Judah which culminated in the capture of Jerusalem. It tells us that the situation of Judah was desperate at this time, with political intrigue and idolatry widespread in the small kingdom. The first two chapters consist of a dialogue between the prophet and the Lord. For what may be the first time in Israelite literature, a man questions the ways of God, as Habakkuk calls him to account for his government of the world with all of its violence and suffering.

What is the cure for such violence and suffering? Faith! In the New Testament passage from Matthew, we also see a man questioning the ways of God as the disciples questioning the Lord about why they can not cure the sick boy.

To illustrate the same point, Mark relates the story of the cursed fig tree and Luke tells us of the ten lepers. When Jesus was hungry, Mark says he went to a fig tree to look for fruit. Finding none, he cursed the tree saying, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” The next day, when they passed the same tree, it had withered to its roots, astonishing the disciples.

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

Luke follows up this lesson with Jesus’ discourse on the leader who treats his obedient servants with respect and then immediately told the story of the actions of the ten lepers. In faith the ten turned to Jesus and were healed…lepers who had the faith of a mustard seed or more and were rewarded for it. However, only one – a Samaritan – returned to thank the Lord. Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Luke 17:18-19 (Men of the 104th Cursillo remember the ten lepers reading at our closing!) The one leper who put his faith into action was the one who was rewarded fully. I often wonder, “Did the other nine had a relapse of their leprosy?”

In the face of wickedness, illness, violence and evil, Habakkuk prays for faith foreshadowing the withered fig tree of Luke’s Gospel.

For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet will I rejoice in the LORD and exult in my saving God. GOD, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights. For the leader; with stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Action

How small must our faith be to be smaller than a mustard seed? At least the disciples could turn to the Lord for a solution to their shortcomings. Now the Lord is gone. He is ascended. To whom are we to turn? What do we try to do of our own power and initiative that we should turn over to the Lord? Do we rejoice like Habakkuk even when things seem to be going against our wishes?

To help our faith grow, the Lord provided the Holy Spirit, sacred scriptures and sacred traditions. These cultivated over the years have grown into a great community that nourishes and nurtures us. The piety, study and action of our daily lives helps to provide a greenhouse that will help a mustard seed of faith to blossom in love.

Nurture the seeds of your faith today by preparing some palanca for the women of the 127th Cursillo who are preparing for a weekend on August 21-24. Visit their web page and sign up for the Palanca Clock or prepare letters for the weekend.