OMELIE / Omelie EN

02 ott 2022

02/10/2022 – 27th Sunday in O. T. - year C

02/10/2022 – 27^th Sunday in O. T. - year C

Reading 1 HAB 1,2-3; 2,2-4 Psalm 94 Reading 2 2 TM 1,6-8.13-14 Gospel LK 17, 5-10

Jesus has just urged the disciples to always give their forgiveness to the brother who asks for it. They realise that, to succeed, it is necessary a faith so great and deep that they still cannot achieve. They ask Jesus: “Increase our faith!”.

In order to forgive the people who sin, many times it is really necessary faith: if you are looking at God and you let yourself be guided, then you can forgive and repeat giving forgiveness as a gift, because your eyes do not notice the sinning brother, but only the eyes of the merciful God, merciful first of all towards you, and then towards everyone else. It could seem strange, but Jesus does not promise to increase the size of their faith, on the contrary, He says that the faith we have is already enough. The measure of the faith is the mustard seed, the smallest seed known, but anyway a seed which is going to become a fruitful plant. Everyone has already that much faith. The faith given us by welcoming Jesus is complete. There is no need to add to it, and it is not possible to have better faith.

However, it is necessary that we keep pride at bay, otherwise the faith is tainted, the relationships are destroyed, both the one with God and with men. Therefore, Jesus wants to help His disciples cultivate a sincere and serene humility. This is why He tells the parable with the famous conclusion which in first instance looks unacceptable to us: “When you have done all you have been commanded, say ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”.

After we have obeyed, there is no place for pride to be further obeyed, but only for humility, the one which is ready to start again serving. Our best pride is to be servants. They who serve lovingly are living the Son of God’s life. He has come precisely to serve the Father, and He has served the Father’s love by serving men. Didn’t He say: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”? I can become similar to Him and I unite myself to Him by serving the brethren. This is why, when I have finished a task, I start another one right away, because I cannot live without being deeply united to the Son of God, Jesus, who came to always serve.

And so our faith becomes our life, like Habakkuk wrote: “the just one, because of his faith, shall live”. Faith is letting us forgive and ask for forgiveness, and this is why it is the beginning of a life pleasing to the Father, of the life of a son, of the son who start serving in order to develop and mature his love. It is the beautiful testimony we can give to our Lord Jesus Christ. He deserves that we shed light on His presence and on the abundance of His love. We can do this with joyful, gratuitous and free service.

Saint Paul is helping us with his words to Timothy: “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord”.

It is good to believe we can be Jesus’ witnesses, to contribute, with our helpful love, to make Him known as the Saviour and the Lord who has come for everyone. I have been supported and strengthened many times by the certainty that, even if no-one sees me and takes me into consideration, my service humble and hidden is useful for glorifying Jesus, for bringing into life and making active the presence of His Spirit. Furthermore, the care we take to glorify Jesus is helping us to understand what is the better course of action in many different situations.