Faith that Transforms Our Lives

E

Homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10

Faith that Transforms Our Lives

Friends,

The readings this Sunday draw us into the mystery of faith—what it is, how it sustains us, and how it calls us to live as servants of the Lord.

In the first reading, the prophet Habakkuk cries out in distress: “How long, O Lord, shall I cry for help and you will not listen?” This is the cry of every human heart faced with suffering, injustice, and delay. Yet God responds with assurance: “The vision will not disappoint. The just one shall live by faith.” Faith, therefore, is not a magic formula that removes pain but a patient trust in God’s promises, even when they seem slow in coming.

In the second reading, Paul encourages Timothy to “stir into flame the gift of God” within him. Faith is not static. It is like a fire that must be tended or else it grows cold. Paul reminds Timothy—and us—that God has not given us “a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” In other words, faith empowers us not to give up in the face of challenges, but to live courageously, rooted in God’s strength.

In the Gospel, the disciples ask Jesus, “Increase our faith.” It’s a prayer we too often make. But Jesus replies with a surprising image: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus is teaching us that faith is not measured by its quantity, but by its authenticity. Even the smallest genuine faith, placed in God, has incredible power.

Yet, Jesus adds a second lesson with the parable of the servant. After doing all his work, the servant says, “We are unworthy servants; we have done only what we ought to have done.” This shows us that faith is not about demanding rewards, but about humble service. True faith makes us trust God completely and serve Him wholeheartedly, without expecting praise or recognition.

So, what can we take home today?

1. Faith sustains us in trials. Like Habakkuk, we may cry out, “How long, O Lord?” but faith helps us trust that God’s promises never fail, even if they take time.
2. Faith must be nurtured. Paul urges us to “fan into flame” the gift of faith. This means prayer, the sacraments, and acts of love are not optional; they are the oxygen that keeps our faith alive.
3. Faith leads to humble service. Like the servant in the Gospel, we are called to serve God and others not for recognition, but out of love and gratitude.

Dear friends, today Jesus tells us that even a little faith can move mountains. The challenge is not the size of our faith but the sincerity with which we live it out. Let us pray like the apostles: “Lord, increase our faith!” May our faith help us persevere in trials, grow in love, and serve humbly until the day we see God face to face. Amen.

Do have a splendid week!