27th
Sunday in Ordinary Time C. Oct. 5, 2025
Habakkuk
1:2-3; 2: 2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10
Theme: Faith of
Beginners, not a Spectacular Faith, is Enough to Start Living Out Jesus’s
Teachings
A.
A Brief Exegetical Analysis of Luke 17:5-10
1.
Historical and Literary Contexts
The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith in
our Gospel passage. Their request is motivated by all of Jesus’s teachings they
have heard so far since they started traveling with him on his long journey to
Jerusalem. This journey, which begins at chapter 9:51 and ends at chapter
19:27, is significant for Luke because it culminates in the events of Jesus’s
Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Our Gospel passage is immediately
preceded by the warning about sin and the call to forgive others (Lk 17:1-4),
and it is followed by the story of the cleansing of the ten lepers.
2.
Form, Structure, and Movement
This story, full of imagery, can be split into two
parts: Jesus first responds to the disciples’ request (vv. 5-6), then he
explains his response using sayings (vv. 7-10).
3.
Detailed Analysis
Vv. 5-6. The disciples ask Jesus to increase their
faith. Through this request, they reveal their discouragement and belief that
they cannot fully live out all of Jesus’s teachings they have heard so far,
especially the warning about sin and the call to forgive others multiple times
(Lk 17:1-4), which immediately precedes this passage. In response, Jesus does
not grant their request but teaches them what even a little faith can
accomplish. The faith the size of a mustard seed refers to the faith of
beginners. The mulberry tree has an extensive root system, making it difficult
to uproot. Therefore, the expression “to uproot a mulberry tree” means to solve
an extremely complicated problem. Here, Jesus affirms that his disciples do not
need spectacular faith, but rather the faith of beginners to start living out
his teachings.
Vv. 7-10. These sayings
about a servant's attitude illustrate Jesus’s response to the disciples’
request. Through these sayings, Jesus teaches that when the disciples fulfill
the demands of discipleship, they are simply doing their duty. Therefore, they
should not expect praise, honor, or claim God’s graciousness.[1]
4.
Synthesis
The disciples’ request to Jesus about increasing
their faith shows their discouragement and belief that they cannot fully live
out all of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus tells them that they do not need a
spectacular faith; instead, the faith of beginners is enough to start
practicing his teachings. They only do their duty when they fulfill the demands
of discipleship. Therefore, they cannot claim God’s graciousness.
B.
Pastoral Implications
1.
Liturgical Context
Today’s Scripture readings examine what prevents us
from living out God's teachings and what we need to do to stay good Christians.
In the Gospel, the disciples' fear, lack of confidence in themselves, and lack
of trust in Jesus lead them to feel that they don't have sufficient faith to
follow everything Jesus teaches them. In the first reading, because his people
continue to face oppression, the prophet Habakkuk believes that God does not
listen to his prayers. In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds Timothy of the
dark days of persecution that are to come and urges him not to be ashamed of
his testimony to the Lord. We, too, should continue to follow Jesus and his
teachings, despite the trials we face each day, and wait patiently for God's
promises to be fulfilled.
2. What the Church Teaches Us Today
The
disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith because they find all of Jesus’s
teachings they have heard so far difficult to follow, especially the warning
about sin and the call to forgive others multiple times (Lk 17:1-4) that Jesus
taught them right before our Gospel passage. Through this request, they reveal
their shame and fear of being incapable and unworthy of following Jesus. Many
Christians today feel the same. Some have stopped attending Mass, while others
attend but do not participate actively and intentionally, believing they lack sufficient
faith to live out God’s teachings and the Church’s precepts, which they find
challenging. In our Gospel, Jesus does not increase his disciples' faith as
they requested. Instead, he teaches them and us what even a little faith can
accomplish. He tells us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we
can uproot the mulberry tree. The faith the size of a mustard seed refers to
the faith of beginners. The mulberry tree has an extensive root system, making
it difficult to uproot. Therefore, the expression “to uproot a mulberry tree”
means solving an extremely complicated problem. Here, Jesus wants us to know
that we do not need spectacular faith; instead, with the faith of beginners, we
should continue coming to Church and start living out his teachings. This faith
of beginners will one day “uproot the mulberry tree,” meaning that it will
overcome all negative feelings that prevent us from following Jesus as we
should. When we do not see the results of this “faith of beginners” happening
in our lives, our first reading exhorts us to be patient while we continue following
Jesus.
The context of the first reading is that Jerusalem was
besieged and oppressed by the Babylonians around 600 B.C., when the prophet
Habakkuk wrote this passage. Seeing the suffering of his people, the prophet
shows his frustration and complaint to God through a prayer in the form of questions:
“How long, O Lord? I cry for help, but you do not listen! But you do not
intervene…” (Hab 1:2-3). God does not respond to Habakkuk’s questions. Instead,
he tells him to write the vision clearly on tablets so the people can read it
easily. This vision predicts the downfall of all kinds of tyrants and the
coming of God’s reign over the whole earth. The main point is that Habakkuk and
the people of Israel see that this promise of a better future is being delayed.
That is why God calls him and his people to remain patient and steadfast in
their faith, regardless of how long it takes for liberation and peace to come.
Like the Israelites, we are also besieged and
oppressed by various sufferings and negative feelings we face daily, which make
us feel incapable of being good Christians. Here, God is asking us the same:
not to lose our faith. Although the blessings we pray for seem delayed, we
should not give up but remain patient and steadfast in our faith. We believe
that even if our faith seems small, like a mustard seed, it can “uproot the
mulberry trees” of any suffering and negative feelings that prevent us from
following Jesus and living out his teachings. In our second reading, Saint Paul
offers the same advice to Timothy.
In this passage, Saint Paul refers to his own death as
he is in prison. Knowing that his death will grieve Timothy, he prepares him
for the dark days of persecution ahead. Like Timothy, we also face trials that
challenge our faith, making us feel unworthy, afraid, and ashamed of living out
our Christian lives and following Jesus’ and the Church’s teachings. In such
situations, Saint Paul encourages Timothy and us to constantly stir into flame
the gift of God, which is the Holy Spirit, that we received when we were
baptized (2 Tim 1:6). This Holy Spirit is not the Spirit of “cowardice, but
rather of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:7). Therefore, we should
not feel unworthy, afraid, or ashamed of our testimony to the Lord; instead, we
should continue to follow Jesus with God’s grace (2 Tim 1:8).
May the liturgy of this Mass grant us all the grace we
need to stay patient and steadfast in our faith as we choose to follow Jesus
and his teachings consistently and confidently, even amid our daily trials.
Amen.
Rev.
Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor
of Holy Family Catholic Church, Jackson, MS &
SVD
USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator.
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