¡Señor! Auméntanos la fe...

Todos los textos de la liturgia de este domingo nos hablan de la fe, que es el fundamento de toda la vida cristiana. Jesús enseñó a sus discípulos a crecer en la fe, a creer y a confiar cada vez más en Él, para así construir su vida sobre la roca. Por eso le dijeron: “¡Auméntanos la fe!” (Lc 17,5). Lo que le piden al Señor es algo hermoso: piden la gracia de reconocer a Dios y de tener una relación cercana con Él, recibiendo de Él todos sus dones, incluso los de valentía, amor y esperanza.

Jesús, sin responder directamente a su súplica, recurre a una imagen paradójica para expresar la increíble vitalidad de la fe. Así como una palanca levanta algo mucho más pesado que su propio peso, así también la fe, incluso un grano minúsculo de fe, puede hacer cosas impensables y extraordinarias, como arrancar de raíz un gran árbol y plantarlo en el mar (cf. Lc 17,6). La fe que confía en Cristo, que lo acoge, que se deja transformar por Él, que lo sigue hasta el final, hace posibles cosas humanamente imposibles en toda situación.

El profeta Habacuc también da testimonio de esto en la primera lectura. Él suplica al Señor a partir de una situación espantosa de violencia, injusticia y opresión. Y aun en este contexto difícil e inseguro, el profeta presenta una visión que ofrece una mirada interior del plan que Dios está trazando y llevando a cumplimiento en la historia. El impío, aquel que no actúa según Dios, que confía en su propio poder pero se apoya en una realidad frágil e inconsistente que acabará por ceder, está destinado a caer; el justo, en cambio, confía en una realidad oculta pero firme, confía en Dios y, por eso, vivirá.

La segunda parte del Evangelio de hoy presenta otra enseñanza: una enseñanza de humildad que, sin embargo, está estrechamente vinculada con la fe. Jesús nos invita a ser humildes y propone el ejemplo de un siervo que ha trabajado en el campo. Cuando regresa a casa, el amo le pide que siga

trabajando. Según la mentalidad del tiempo de Jesús, el amo tenía todo el derecho de hacerlo. El siervo debía estar totalmente disponible para su señor; y el amo no se sentía en deuda con él por haber cumplido con las órdenes recibidas. Jesús nos hace ver que, ante Dios, estamos en una situación similar: somos siervos de Dios, no sus acreedores, sino siempre sus deudores, porque le debemos todo, ya que todo es un don suyo. Aceptar y cumplir su voluntad debe ser nuestra actitud cada día, en cada momento de nuestra vida. Ante Dios, nunca debemos presentarnos como si creyéramos haber hecho un servicio que merece una gran recompensa. Esta es una ilusión que puede surgir en todos, incluso en quienes trabajan mucho al servicio del Señor, en la Iglesia. Más bien, debemos ser conscientes de que en realidad nunca hacemos lo suficiente por Dios. Debemos decir, como sugiere Jesús: “somos siervos inútiles; hemos hecho lo que teníamos que hacer” (Lc 17,10). Esta es una actitud de humildad que realmente nos sitúa en nuestro lugar y permite al Señor ser muy generoso con nosotros. De hecho, en otro pasaje del Evangelio, Él promete a quienes lo sirven que “se ceñirá, los hará sentar a la mesa y se pondrá a servirlos” (cf. Lc 12,37).

Queridos amigos, si hoy hacemos la voluntad de Dios con humildad, sin reclamarle nada, será el mismo Jesús quien nos sirva, quien nos ayude, quien nos anime, quien nos dé fuerza y serenidad. ¡Con el poder de Dios todo es posible! Que la Madre de Cristo les ayude y los conduzca a un conocimiento profundo de su Hijo. ¡Amén!

*[Síntesis de una homilía del Papa Benedicto XVI, 03 de octubre de 2010]*

P. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C

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Lord! Increase Our Faith…

All the texts of this Sunday's Liturgy speak to us of faith, which is the foundation of the whole of Christian life. Jesus taught his disciples to grow in faith, to believe and to entrust themselves increasingly to him, in order to build their own lives on the rock. For this reason, they asked him "increase our faith!" (Lk 17: 5). What they asked the Lord for is beautiful, they ask for the grace to recognize God and to be in a close relationship with him, receiving from him all his gifts, even those of courage, love and hope.

Jesus, without directly answering their prayer, has recourse to a paradoxical image to express the incredible vitality of faith. Just as a lever raises something far heavier than its own weight, so faith, even a crumb of faith, can do unthinkable, extraordinary things, such as uproot a great tree and plant it in the sea (ibid.). Faith trusting in Christ, welcoming him, letting him transform us, following him to the very end makes humanly impossible things possible in every situation. The Prophet Habbakuk also bears witness to this in the First Reading. He implores the Lord, starting with a dreadful situation of violence, iniquity and oppression. And even in this difficult, insecure situation, the Prophet introduces a vision that offers an inside view of the plan that God is outlining and bringing to fulfilment

in history. The godless person, the one who does not behave in accordance with God, who trusts in his own power but is relying on a frail and inconsistent reality that will therefore give way, is destined to fall; the righteous person, on the other hand, trusts in a hidden but sound reality, he trusts in God and for this reason will have life.

The second part of today's Gospel presents another teaching, a teaching of humility that is nevertheless closely linked to faith. Jesus invites us to be humble and suggests the example of a servant who has worked in the fields. When he returns home, the master asks him to go on working. According to the mentality of Jesus' time the master had every right to do this. The servant owed his master total availability; and the master did not feel under any obligation to him for having carried out the orders he had received. Jesus makes us aware that, before God, we are in a similar situation: we are God's servants, we are not his creditors but are always indebted to him, because we owe him everything since everything is a gift from him. Accepting and doing his will is the approach to have

every day, at every moment of our life. Before God, we must never present ourselves as if we believe we have done a service and deserve a great reward. This is an illusion that can be born in everyone, even in people who work very hard in the Lord's service, in the Church. Rather, we must be aware that in reality we never do enough for God. We must say, as Jesus' suggests: "we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Lk 17: 10). This is an attitude of humility that really puts us in our place and permits the Lord to be very generous to us. In fact, in another Gospel passage, he promises people that "he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them" (cf. Lk 12: 37). Dear friends, if we do God's will today with humility, without claiming

anything from him, it will be Jesus himself who serves us, who helps us, who encourages us, who gives us strength and serenity. With God's power everything is possible! May the Mother of Christ, help you and lead you to deep knowledge of her Son. Amen!

[Synthesized from Pope Benedict, Homilies, 03 X 10]

Fr. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C

27th Sunday – C 2025

My friends, our gospel reading today presents two seemingly disconnected topics:

• One – lack of faith:   "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed…”

• Two – the unworthy servant, who should say, “I have done no more than what I was obliged to do….”

These two might seem disconnected but they’re not.  They are both about faith……

I remember being troubled every time I heard Jesus say, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea.’”    I would always think, “I must have zero faith…” 

Our gospel begins with the Apostles saying to Jesus:  “Increase our faith.”  The Apostles wanted Jesus to do the work for them.  Well, that’s not how faith works.  Faith is never taught.  Faith is always caught.  We can teach religion but we can’t teach faith…

My friends, even if we only have a tiny bit of faith, it can grow into something huge.  Jesus used a hyperbole to make his point – comparing a tiny mustard seed to a huge mulberry tree, which has a deep root system and can grow to be 80 feet tall and 80 feet wide.  Jesus used the moving of the mulberry tree as an expression of having faith to accomplish what is seemingly impossible.

A good example of the mustard seed and mulberry tree is the work that is being done right here in the Coachella Valley.  Thirty-five years ago, in 1990, Gloria Gomez and Claudia Castorena began making sandwiches in their homes to give to homeless people in Indio.  As word got out, more and more people came for sandwiches.  Fortunately, more volunteers joined these two women and their ministry grew so much so that their ministry moved to the parish kitchen of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio.  It became known as Martha's Kitchen.

Before long, they were distributing used clothing and shoes.  Their efforts grew into what is known today as Martha's Village and Kitchen.  Everything in their ministry has been donated – including  land for a larger location, buildings and resources to help feed and clothe the needy.  They also provide medical care and educational assistance.

Twenty years later, after Martha's Village and Kitchen was well established and functioning with new leadership, Gloria and Claudia thought they would try to help the poor in the Mecca area, which is one of the poorest areas in the country. 

In June, 2010 Gloria and Claudia along with 12 other volunteers began to distribute canned goods under the shade of a tree in Thermal, a few miles north of Mecca.  By the end of that first day, they gave food to approximately 100 families.

Word got out and it didn't take long for more people to come for help.  Thankfully, more volunteers got  involved to help the needy.  Gloria and Claudia's new ministry grew to what is known today as Galilee Center in Mecca. 

Galilee Center now has a comfort station which provides showers and a place to rest for those in need.  Each year they give assistance to about 50,000 people.  They provide food, clothing, medical care, and educational assistance.

My friends – the faith of these two women figuratively moved that mulberry tree.  They did not begin with any grandiose ideas.  The simply made sandwiches and gave canned goods to the poor.  They also trusted that God would lead them to do what is next.  We never know how a little help or gift that we give to someone may change their life – and possibly our life.  Faith the size of a mustard can grow into something huge.

The Second Part of our gospel today is the Unworthy Servant:

As some of you may know, I was the Director of the Office of Construction and Real Estate for the Diocese of San Bernardino for many years.  My office was responsible for construction of new churches and schools as well as the renovation of existing buildings. 

When the buildings were completed, Bishop Barnes (who was our Ordinary at the time) would come and dedicate the new church buildings or bless the other buildings.  The procedure was pretty much the same at all the events.  The pastor of the parish or principal of the school would begin by thanking Bishop Barnes for coming and then thank all those responsible for the successful completion of the project.  These included the generous donors, those who chaired the fund raising committees, and all the other volunteers.

However, there was one completed project which was different:

It was at the blessing of a food distribution center in Mecca, as mentioned earlier, one of the poorest communities in the United States.  Bishop Barnes was there to bless the new center.  The center was an old, dilapidated building owned by Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Mecca.  It had been renovated and made useable to store and distribute food. 

My office was in charge of the renovation of this difficult project.  In addition to fund raising, we had to obtain permissions and permits from the Planning Commission, Building Department, Health Department and Fire Department.  Thankfully,  there were generous donors from outside the parish. 

Attending the blessing were the donors and contractors who made this project possible.  Also attending were public officials and  newspapers...  

The ceremony began with Fr. Eliseo Lucas, who was pastor of the parish at that time.  Fr. Eliseo began by saying:

"This is a wonderful day for the poor and needy people.  And, we are thankful for the people who made this day possible.  But really – we have done no more – than what we are obliged to do..."

I was sitting in the back and I could see Bishop Barnes nodding his head.  I could also see some people who looked surprised at what Fr. Eliseo said.

During my time at the Diocese – I attended many dedications.  But that was the one and only time I heard someone say:  "We only did – what we should have done….."

Feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; and most of all, love each and every one as a child of our Gracious God.

My friends, please note that on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Pope Leo celebrates Holy Mass and the theme is the Jubilee of the Missions and the Jubilee of Migrants.  We have many Migrants in our Diocese...