Daily Readings - Sat Aug 08 2020
Habakkuk
12Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?14And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?15They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.16Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.17Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Matthew
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith and the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems uncertain or unjust. In the first reading from Habakkuk, the prophet cries out to God, questioning why the wicked prosper and the just suffer. Habakkuk’s lament reflects a deep human struggle: the desire for justice and the frustration of waiting for God’s intervention. Yet, in the midst of his doubt, God assures him that the vision of justice will come in due time. The prophet is called to remain steadfast and trust in God’s promise, even when the fulfillment seems delayed.
In the Gospel, we encounter a father who brings his epileptic son to Jesus, desperate for healing. The father’s plea is one of both sorrow and faith, yet he is met with the disciples’ inability to help. Jesus responds by rebuking the demon and healing the boy, teaching the disciples that their lack of faith was the obstacle. Jesus emphasizes that even a small amount of faith—like a mustard seed—can move mountains. This passage reminds us that faith is not about our own strength but about trusting in God’s power to overcome even the most daunting challenges.
These readings call us to examine our own faith and trust in God. Like Habakkuk, we may find ourselves questioning why evil seems to prevail or why our prayers seem unanswered. Like the disciples, we may feel inadequate or unsure of our ability to trust. Yet, the readings assure us that faith, even in its smallest form, is enough. God’s timing and ways are not our own, but we are called to stand firm, to wait patiently, and to trust that His plan will unfold. Let us pray for the grace to grow in faith, to persevere in hope, and to trust in God’s promise of ultimate justice and healing.