A Few Words On "The Word"

October 7, 2007
The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 17:5-10

Pulling for the Underdog

Everybody loves a good underdog story. You don't see many movies about the unbeatable team or the rich doctor who never had to struggle to reach a goal. It's much more exciting to hear about someone who overcame the odds to push on to an even higher height.

When you really think about it, doesn't it seem a little weird that we'd rather read a story about someone in despair? Shouldn't we want to learn about someone who did everything perfect the first time around?

Of course not! We know that life isn't perfect or easy and sometimes it can cause us to despair. We encounter problems and challenges that make us feel inadequate. We lose sight of our goals because we're afraid we might not have what it takes. Unforeseen obstacles cross our paths. The toil of everyday life begins to take its toll.

Jesus definitely knew that life can be tough. He experienced the grind of everyday life just like we do. That's why Jesus knows just how easy it is to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. He knows that sometimes we fall into despair and feel like all hope is gone.

In today's gospel, Jesus capitalizes on his own experiences as a human being. By showing us what just a little faith can do, Jesus offers us hope. He seeks to offer us encouragement even when we're undergoing the most trying of circumstances. If we can just have a little faith in God and his plan for us, we can do incredible things.

We like to hear the underdog story because we all need hope. We need to believe that even when we feel too young, too inexperienced, too powerless, too uninformed, incapable, or weak, God will pull us through.

Being a peacebuilder is one of the biggest challenges you'll ever face. You'll surely encounter obstacles as you try to help others. You may be told that your dreams and goals are too expensive or time consuming. However, Jesus wants us to persevere in hope. Hold onto those tiny seeds of faith and trust that God will help the tree of justice to grow. Then you'll have an underdog story of your own!

Reflection Question

In what ways do you have the "faith of a mustard seed" even when you feel like being a peacebuilder makes you the underdog?

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