First reading: Hab. 1:2–3, 2:2–4

How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord.

Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

Second reading: 2 Tim. 1:6–8,13–14

Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Gospel: Lk. 17:5–10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

In other words

by Fr. Florencio Lagura, SVD (Christ the King Mission Seminar, Quezon City)

“Knowing that to love and serve you is enough reward” are words coming from the lips of many seminarians at Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City, as they derive inspiration from the song in order to achieve real greatness in an unlikely manner—serving!

In the Old Testament, the prophet Habakkuk never aspired to be a prophet or a spokesman as his service to God. Yet, when designated by God to be one, Habakkuk initially wailed because he had witnessed so much evil destruction and violence.

In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul advised the former that in serving God and his people as bishop, he must avoid any appearance of cowardice; rather, like a strong servant-leader, Timothy must show the power of love and self-control.

In the early years of Christianity, God gifted the Church with an excellent leader in Gregory, a monk whom the pope later called to serve as a priest and his legate to the court of Constantinople (now Istanbul). In the presence of the Eastern emperor, Gregory engaged the leader of the Orthodox Church in a debate, both political and theological in nature.

Returning to Rome, Gregory was raised to the rank of cardinal/archbishop. When the pope died, the cardinal electors unanimously chose him as pope.

When asked what his title should be, since his rival, the Orthodox patriarch John Citius, had assumed for himself the title of “Supreme Bishop of the whole Christian Church,” Gregory, heeding the words of our Lord who said “the Son of Man came to this world not to be served but to serve,” humbly selected the title “Servant of the servants of the Lord” (Servus servorum Domini).

To this day, the popes of the Catholic Church bear this title, knowing and hoping that true greatness in God’s eyes can be achieved through humble, loving, and dedicated service.