Reflection
The prophet Habakkuk certainly had a lot of chutzpah! Other Old Testament prophets serve as a mouthpiece for God, relaying His messages to the Jewish people. Habakuk, however, actually takes God to task for the evils that have befallen the nation. While he acknowledges that Israel has strayed from the path, Habakkuk complains that the punishment is far worse than the crime. The Babylonians commit the most heinous atrocities imaginable. Evildoers prosper, while the just are victimized. Habakkuk asks the questions we are all familiar with: How can a good God allow such awful things to happen? Why do bad things happen to good people?
In the next chapter God responds. Write it down, He says: Justice will prevail and goodness will triumph in due time. Have faith and be patient. As today’s psalm reminds us: You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
In today’s Gospel Jesus tell His disciples that they were unable to drive out evil spirits because they lacked faith. He promises,
“Amen I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
I recently attended the funeral of a distant relative who had been a nun for 65 years. What a celebration of life! Since taking her vows in 1961 she taught in schools in the St. Louis area, spent 12 years in Bolivia establishing Montessori schools, returned to the United States to train others, taught English to Hispanic immigrants, established ESL programs, and, in “retirement”, brought joy to fellow nursing home residents with her considerable musical talents. Her faith in God allowed her to drive out such evil spirits as ignorance, despair, prejudice, fear and depression.
May we all use our faith to combat evil spirits of all sorts!
