GOD IS OUR POWER!

27^th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Hab 1:2-3, 2:2-4; Tim 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10

If we look around our house, we have T.V., radio, rice cooker, refrigerator, washing machine and light. We watch television to recreate ourselves and to watch the current news. We have refrigerator to preserve our food and to have cool drinks. We have rice cooker to prepare food easily. In the offices, in the banks and in the school they need air-con and computers. Electrical appliances are very relevant for our better living. They are here to serve us. What if there is no electricity?

I remember last month, there was a brown-out in our place. Our laundry could not use the washing machine. There was no light. It was dark. Very hot in my room. I could not use computer. I could not use any electrical appliances and instruments. It was difficult!

Think about the big institutions like the banks, malls, schools and other business firms. Without electricity, the business will collapse. Without electricity, those instruments like computers, television and other important instruments and gadgets will be useless!

Without God, like these electrical things, we cannot follow Jesus. Without God, we cannot live. God alone gives us power. Indeed, God is our power. He alone gives us his energy, his spirit. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, reminds us that God gives us the “spirit of POWER and love and self-control.” This is the final letter of Paul before he died. He is lonely, but he is not discouraged. He is full of energy and strength from God. Today he encourages us to persevere like him, to be more faithful like him.

Faithfulness is the key thing to live our lives in the power of His love. Faithfulness is the call for all of us to gain the power of God. He said, “If you have faith the size of mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” It is an image of a faithful person who wants to grow in faith. Like the apostles of Jesus, they said, “Increase our faith.”

The Prophet Habakkuk feels frustrated, “there is strife, and clamorous discord.” But God asks him to increase his faith. “Increase our faith.” This statement is intended for us. This is an invitation for us to tireless work – to be full of fire, to be full of spirit – to be full of power!

God is our power. He gives us His spirit. He gives us energy. God has given us the gift of faith to ignite this power, the power to serve Him, and to serve others. We must remember that He honors the faithful servant who serves generously. With our faithfulness, we always give our best in the service of God. With His power, we always give our best for the sake of others.

Be faithful… we’ve got the POWER! Give our best to serve Him and others.