Readings for Sunday October 3, 2010

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

God’s in Charge . . . . You’re Free!

It’s very predictable. When you talk with a group of high school students and ask, who would like more freedom from parents? Most hands shoot up.
It’s normal for teens to thirst for freedom, just like its normal for parents to get nervous about granting it. But this week’s Gospel is all about freedom- the freedom that comes when you realize that Gods in charge and you’re not.
Our culture is very competitive. Who will get the best grades? Who will win the game? Who will look the best? It’s easy for life to become nothing but one long final exam where success means everything. And that’s when life becomes pretty meaningless. Jesus offers us so much by reminding us that we’re God’s servants. But how’s that better? After all, who wants to be a servant when they grow up? It’s better because it frees us. God’s in charge. We can’t solve the world’s problems. That’s God’s job. So don’t worry about being a successful Christian. God ask you only to faithfully do what you can, remembering that God’s love doesn’t depend on your success.
We’re free. We’re free to take risk for our faith because we don’t need to worry about success. Many of the teens we know can inspire us by their willingness. “What have I got to lose?” as they sign up for different mission trips and other service projects. And the more you risk things for God, the Master, the more you’ll get what the Apostles wanted in this week’s Gospel: more faith.
What a gift God has given us by taking charge. In a world where you might feel responsible for so much, enjoy the freedom that comes from being God’s servant.
Fr Corey Brost

Reading 1 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4

2 How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. 3 Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and clamorous discord. 2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. 3 For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. 4 The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.


Reading 2 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

6 Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.
13 Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel Luke 17:5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? 8 Would he not rather say to him,
'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? 9 Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
10 So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

Does your fear of failure ever stop you from taking risk for your faith?