Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest
Readings: Habakkuk 1:12—2:4; Psalm 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13; Matthew 17:14-20
Summary
How long will I be with you? (Mt 17:17b).
How long will I endure you? (Mt 17:17c).
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” (Mt 17:14-16).
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked devour those more just than themselves? Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision. For the appointed time, a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. (Hab 1:13, 2:2a, 2:3bcde).
Jesus makes clear the Lord is not late, we are not responding as we should.
Reflection
Here we have the collision between faltering trust and the active presence of the Lord. The Transfiguration has occurred, followed by Jesus’ identification of John the Baptist with Elijah’s prophetic role. Earlier in time (in the Matthew sequence Chapter 10) the disciples received the power and authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
How long will I be with you? That is, when will you start taking your responsibilities seriously?
How long will I endure you? That is, why do you resist the divine aid within you and for you?
Then Jesus provides the answer most directly.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed… (Mt 17:19-20a). They had little faith (faltering trust) but even mustard-seed faith, rooted in humility and obedience, would have been enough.
The contradiction is the answer.
This is evident in the sacred gospel portion that follows in Matthew – Payment of the Temple Tax and the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew continues exposing the disciples’ still-developing faith: questions of privilege, responsibility, status, and greatness follow immediately.
Personal Reflection
How long?
Lord, may the time be shortened where I am prideful and disobedient! May instead the wonderful works of your hand be fruitful even in the most difficult of circumstances.
- Take responsibility.
- Obey without sinful pride.
In your name, may I say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/memorial-saint-dominic-priest
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry