“The Righteous shall live by Faith”

Reflection for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4, 2Tim 1:6-8, 13-14, Lk 17:5-10)
1.0.The Dark Night of Faith
It is not easy to believe and sustain faith. This is because faith is assurance of things not seen or the guarantee of blessings hoped for (Hen 11:1). That is why faith comes as a supernatural gift. It may seem plausible to claim to believe when life is favourable. But with the experience of prophet Habakkuk in the first reading, faith is tested, doubt knocks, and only the one with strong and genuine faith stands. “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” The echo of the silence of God to the cry of the man faith, vibrates more in the midst of the sound of violence, destruction, strife and contention he perceives. This was the situation the prophet found himself; a test of faith.

The silence of God in the dark night of faith, when It is almost unbelievable to believe, is equally a purifier of faith. “For still the vision awaits its time...if it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come.” The suspension of God's response to the cry of the man of faith, the elongation of his longing, stretches and strengthens faith, which in turn delivers to him the answers he hoped for at the appropriate time. And this appropriate time of blessing is the now of God. Therefore,  whoever does not stand with God now, whose soul is not upright in him shall fail. Such a one cannot possess a faith that can awake from the dark night of faith. “But the righteous shall live by Faith.”

2.0. “Increase our Faith”
This is an all time request! We all need to grow in faith. Faith that is not growing—a faith not watered and fed—withers and dies. Jesus answered, “If you had faith as little as a grain of mustered seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” That means faith increases by being put to action. No matter the size of the faith one possess, if put to use can achieve great results. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).

3.0. Servants of Faith
Jesus describes how we ought to carry out the works of faith so as to grow in  faith and receive our daily bread. It is like a servant,  who goes about his assigned duties without expecting compensation or reward. He focuses solely on executing his duties, and ensuring his master is satisfied. So this servant places himself at the disposal of his master. He gets his food and drink afterwards, at the appropriate time, which is the time determined by the master, not the servant. “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Such a servant, by carrying out his mere duties, has elevated his faith above his hunger or problems, and placed It in the person of his master. Total abandonment or resignation to the will of God is what the saints used to describe such a faith. The righteous shall live by Faith!

The servants of faith do not trust in their endurance or hard work, but in the good pleasure of the Master. The silence of the dark night of faith surfaces as the servant is tossed from one job to another with any intermediary appreciation or reward. However, the master's good pleasure awaits him. His dedication to duty and perseverance become a sort of platform through which he receives his food and drink  at the favourable time, which is the time allotted by the master.

Jesus is the Master of our faith. The appropriate time for our daily bread is the now of God. Let us rekindle the gift of faith, and put to action all that our faith in Christ Jesus demands of us. “Your perseverance will win you your lives” (Lk 21:19).

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
SsPeter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo,  Lagos
Sunday October 6th, 2019.