Replying, Staying, Serving: Faithfulness in the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Reflection of Rev. Fr. Phillippe Angelo G. Garcia for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When you get a text message, your response depends on the sender.
If the person is a stranger, they are usually ignored. If you're not close to them, a reply may happen but not immediately.
If they’re not special to you, your time and attention may vary. But when someone you love calls, you answer immediately.

There are times that you check your inbox just to see if they reached out to you. If the person is truly special, you wait for that person to message you. Sometimes, you're the first to send a message: Kamusta ka na? Kumain ka na ba? (How are you? Have you eaten yet?)


You care because you love them.

Even when you're sick or not in the mood,
if you love someone, you still respond.
You make time for them. You talk to them.
Because love makes you do that.

This Sunday, our reflection focuses on FAITH.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 26 and 142, faith is our response to God’s revelation. It is God who loves us first by his revelation.
Our reply is our faith.

You can’t call yourself a good Catholic if you don’t respond to God! A good Catholic always puts God first above all else!

Let’s reflect on two points about faith as we celebrate the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1. Faith Means Staying with God

   In the first reading, the prophet Habakkuk cries out to God during a time of violence, injustice, and chaos.
Everything around him was falling apart.
But even in the middle of all that, he stayed with God.
He prayed. He waited for God’s saving time.

   
   

   In the second reading, St. Paul tells us to “Remain faithful.”

   
   

   One time, someone shared their story to me. They stated, "Father, naguguluhan po ako. May dalawang trabaho akong pagpipilian:
Isa, malaki ang sahod pero mapapalayo ako sa Diyos.
Isa pa, katamtaman lang ang kita pero mas mapapalapit ako sa Diyos." (Father, I’m confused. I have two job offers:
One pays a high salary but will take me away from God.
The other pays just enough, but it will bring me closer to God.”) 

   
   

   I replied, "Kapatid, huwag mong piliin ang maglalayo sa’yo sa Diyos.
Mas mabuti nang mahirapan sa tama at malapit kay Hesus kaysa mamuhay sa kasalanan." (Brother, never choose what will lead you away from God. It’s better to struggle in doing what is right while closer to Jesus than to live a sinful life.)

   
   

   Staying with Jesus does not guarantee a life that is a bed of roses. Staying with Jesus may also give you a share of struggles in life. You may still face many difficulties and brokenness but there is a great consolation for you are not alone in carrying your cross. Jesus is always with you. Remember the favorite phrase of many in the Novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help? The prayer tells us “He who shares the cross of Christ will certainly share his resurrection!)

   
   

   Be faithful! Choose what is right. ALWAYS Choose to stay with JESUS.

2. Faith Should Be Seen in Our Actions

   
   

   In the Gospel, we are one with the apostles praying to our master to please “increase our faith”. We also observe in the Gospel that our lord uses the image of servants and shepherds —
people who serve others. This leads us into a reflection that true faith is not JUST about believing.
It must be seen in our character; how we act and treat others.

   
   

   A parish volunteer once came to me and said:
 "Father, ayoko na pong mag-serve.
Yung mga malapit pa sa Diyos, sila pa ang mahilig sa intriga at chismis." (Father, I don’t want to serve anymore.
Even in church, the ones who appear closest to God are the ones who gossip and cause problems.)

   
   

   I replied, “Maaring totoo na hindi maganda ang ugali ng iba.
Pero tanungin kita, kanino ka ba talaga naglilingkod? Sa Diyos o sa opinyon ng tao?” (It may be true that others are unpleasant.
But let me ask you, are you here because you are serving God or are you here for the opinion of others?)

   
   

   A week later, she came back and said:
“Father, ok na po ako.
Hindi ko iiwan ang simbahan dahil lang sa ugali ng iba.
Maglilingkod pa rin po ako kay God dito sa ating parokya” (Father, I’m okay now.
I won’t leave the Church just because of other people’s bad behavior.
I will continue to serve God here in our parish.”)

   
   

   That moment touched my heart. She may have experienced struggles in serving God through our parish community but she stayed with Jesus. It reminded me that true faith leads one to authentic service. We don’t serve God only when it’s fun.
We don’t do good only when others are good to us.
We do good because we love God. We serve because we LOVE GOD.

   
   

   So even if others are problematic,
even if they say hurtful things,
even if they treat you badly, remember, NEVER LEAVE JESUS BECAUSE OF JUDAS’ BETRAYAL. You must still choose to serve the CHURCH if you truly love God!

   
   

   It is true that God loves you first. The response to the God who loves you first is faithfulness through staying with JESUS and serving God by your good character.

Let’s continue our reflection with these questions:

1. In our Gospel, the apostles prayed “Lord, increase our faith”, as a catholic for a relevant amount of time, how has your faith grown since you had your first communion?

2. What are your priorities in life? As you make plans and decisions, do you make your relationship with Jesus as a guiding principle?

3. Do you struggle in following Jesus? How? Tell Jesus about it in your prayer time.

The only way to love truly is to be HOLY.

God loves you.

Stay with HIM.

ALWAYS CHOOSE TO SERVE HIM.