Our readings for today strike boldly in our faces about faith. My experience when speaking to fellow Catholics is that there is a sense of being allergic to the notion of faith. “Oh, that sounds too Protestant,” some might say. And no doubt, this sentiment is a reaction to the Reformation and subsequent Counter-Reformation.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent says this about faith:
“the word faith has a variety of meanings, we here speak of that faith, by force of which we yield our entire assent to whatever has been divinely delivered. And that this faith is necessary to obtaining salvation, no man can reasonably doubt, particularly as it is written, that without faith it is impossible to please God[1]
Naturally, as time has passed with many ecumenical discussions between Catholics and Protestants, there has been common ground found centering on salvation by God’s grace and how it relates to faith.
The first reading finds us with the Prophet Habakkuk, who is concerned about the injustices and suffering of those in society. He wonders why the LORD has not impeded the violence and destruction against the People of Israel. The LORD cautions him in a prophetic vision, “The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.”
The LORD will intervene, but the integrity of our faith will be tested true.
In the gospel for today from Luke, the Apostles ask Jesus, "Increase our faith." Jesus gives the Apostles a parable describing what was standard at the time relationship between the servants and the master of the household. A noticeable point from Christ’s parable is the relationship of grace to one’s assent to faith. Faith is a gift. Christ reminds the Apostles that servants shouldn’t expect praise for what is expected, for they are “unprofitable servants.” And so, the faithful must reject the secular lie of the Grand March of humanity. The lie that one-day humanity will progress enough in their works to bring salvation to the world—this can only be done by one man, and His name is Jesus Christ.
Again, as we read with the Prophet Habakkuk, even if our society or the Church appears to be in crisis, the echo of the gospel is that there are no profitable workers to be found among us men. So, our faith must endure in Christ and His kingdom, we must wait in faith for Christ to make “all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)
Let us pray for this grace.
[1] Catholic Church, The Catechism of the Council of Trent, trans. Theodore Alois Buckley (London: George Routledge and Co., 1852), 11.
The statement that says, "The lie that one day humanity will progress enough in their works to bring salvation to the world - this can only be done by one man and His name is Jesus Christ", says it all. I love that statement! Its beautiful!