Scripture for August 12, Saturday in Ordinary Time: 18th week. Habakkuk 1:12-2:4. Psalm 9 and Matthew 17:14-20

The Prophet Habakkuk intrigues me! He is only read twice within the three years of Scriptural readings used in the Church and only for today's excerpt and from Hab. 1:2-3; 2:2-4. In fact, I was so curious about the book that I read the whole thing. It won't take you long to read it since it is only three chapters! Most scholars put the book in the period just before the Babylonian Captivity, that is near the year 600 B.C.E. (Before the Common Era). The book certainly describes the violence and injustices of that time when Israel was oppressed. Strangely enough it makes us think of the present day terrorism the reigns in the Middle East. Lebanon is even mentioned within chapter two. The book inspires me to have firmness in my faith in God. The expression is taken up by St. Paul in Romans and Hab. 2:4 is probably the most important verse for us as believers: " the righteous live by their faith." It encourages me to deepen my faith commitment to God's covenant of loving-kindness and justice. In fact, the great doctrine of justification by faith is based on this citation found in Paul (cf. Romans 1:17, Gal.3:11). J.L. McKenzie, S.J. affirms that the translation should read, "the righteous man shall live by his fidelity."

Habakkuk is an easy read. Chapter one is his dialogue with God; chapter two his complaints, and chapter three, his prayer or psalm of confidence. The last few lines are used in the Morning Prayer of the Church and will be familiar to you.

In the Gospel, Jesus, like Habakkuk, is pressing us to have strong faith in the healing power of God seen in God's Son, Jesus. Both the disciples and probably the father of the mentally disturbed son lack the faith necessary for a cure, but find it when they are in direct contact with Jesus who does heal the young man. Jesus tells us that the weakness in the disciples faith was the reason they could not heal. Our faith needs to be like the tiny mustard seed that grows. Such faith can overcome mountains of doubt and powerlessness.

Vatican II calls us the People of God and we are the Church. We are also called to holiness as members of Christ's Body. To be a daughter or son of the Church we need such holiness, such "righteousness" that is based on a great and strong faith. This is the grace we pray for today.