‘Fan into flame the gift of God’
This Sunday, our readings lead us to consider the gift of faith, to ponder our trust in a faithful God, and to ask for the strength to offer humble service.
In the First Reading the prophet Habakkuk complains loudly to God that he does not help in the face of tyranny and oppression. The Lord’s reply is to wait faithfully, for justice will come.
The Psalm is a song of praise and worship, but also encourages us to listen to the Lord, to be open to God today.
The Second Reading warns Timothy never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord. He has been given the gift of the Spirit, which he must continually enliven, relying on God’s power in times of trial.
The disciples, in the Gospel, ask the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’. Jesus responds with the parable of the mustard seed, and then follows on with another about self-forgetfulness and service of others. A life of faith is one that liberates us to follow the voice of the Spirit.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray for the end of all forms of slavery and trafficking in our world. May governments collaborate in their efforts to fight against it, and may victims find freedom and rehabilitation in compassionate communities.
