Vol. 8, No. 3, July, 2003

"Thy Word Is A Lamp To My Feet and a Light to My Path" (ps. 119:105)
by Sr. Brigid Meierotto, S.N.C.

In this teaching and those that follow, we will accept the word of God, the scriptures, into our hearts and minds, letting them give light to us. The scriptures are the inspired word of God. This word has the power to accomplish what it says, for us. Yes, for us, right here, right now.

What we are going to do is reflect on the readings of the Sunday Mass. That's the first reading from the Old Testament, the Psalm that responds to the Old Testament reading, the second reading from the New Testament, and the reading from the Gospel.

As we read these scriptures, in our heart we are asking the Holy Spirit to explain to us the message that the Lord has for us personally. Don't doubt that the Lord will do this for you, we have Jesus' word on it. Look at Jn. 14:25-26.

"These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Tell the Holy Spirit what you expect from him. Something like this: "Holy Spirit, Jesus said that you would teach me all things and I believe him. Teach me about Jesus and about myself, about my family - teach me to love! Thank you, O Holy Spirit."

Have this simple, receptive attitude in your heart as you are reading the scriptures. You don't have to use any words. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit will teach you, because that is why he came, so that you can get to know Jesus.

I invite you now to read the scriptures for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, used in Cycle C. There are three years of Sunday readings, A, B, and C.

First Reading: Hab. 1:2-3: 2:2-4

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear?
Or cry to thee "Violence!" and thou wilt not save?

And the Lord answered me:
"Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end-it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith."

Psalm Response: Ps. 95:1f, 6-9

O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would hearken to his voice!
Harden not your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Second Reading: 2 Tim. 1:6-8, 13f

Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God Follow the pattern of the sound words, which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

Gospel Reading: Lk. 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, 'Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Will anyone of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'?

Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 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.'"

After you have read the passages once, read them again, see if you can get an idea of what the Holy Spirit wants to tell you. Now, read them a third time, letting the Holy Spirit show you what word, what message he has for you.

When you have done that, then you can continue reading here, to see what message the Holy Spirit has for you from this teaching.

Jesus is the Answer to Habakkuk's cry, "how long will I cry for help and you will not hear? or cry "violence" and you will not save?"

Jesus has come, is here to save us, to heal us, to give us life today.

The Holy Spirit wants you to know that this word, the scriptures you have been praying over, are true. This is a living word that has the power to accomplish what it says.

If it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come!

It will surely come, because Jesus has the victory over death and destruction. Jesus is risen from the dead! Jesus has the power, the love to save us, to heal us, to make us whole - to give us life today.

Jesus knows. we're unworthy servants, but he tells us that if we have just a tiny seed of faith -- put it to work, and trust in him, the tree will disappear into the sea. Amen!