Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary by Vandyk; whole-plate glass negative, 24 October 1931, NPG x130813. National Portrait Gallery St Martin’s Place London WC2H OHE
27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10
The first reading for this weekend comes from the Book of Habakkuk. Little is known about this prophet. Scholars believe that this book was written between 626 BC and 612 BC when outside forces threatened the Hebrews. Habakkuk wrote after God’s people had suffered great problems from foreign invasions and brutal occupations. The book laments these past terrible experiences.
This weekend’s reading well conveys the anguish and even despondency of the people as they looked at the effects of all that they had endured. The prophet reassured them. Relief and security would come, as God promised. They could not lose faith or fail in following God’s law.
For its second reading on this weekend, the church gives us a passage from the Second Epistle to Timothy. This epistle is from a time of development in Christianity, the first generation being composed of the Apostles and their converts. Timothy was a bishop, called to guide and to inspire these converts, but, first, he himself had to live as a disciple.
Timothy was in touch with Paul. Indeed, Paul converted Timothy, and Paul mentored Timothy, but Timothy was not from the circle of followers that literally walked with the Lord along the roads and byways of Galilee and along the streets of Capernaum and Jerusalem. Timothy needed the counsel and encouragement of Paul; hence Paul wrote to him.
(The reading refers to one of the most ancient of Christian liturgical gestures, namely the laying on, or imposition, of hands. Apostolic hands were laid on the head of Timothy, and Timothy became a bishop. Still today, this gesture is essentially and absolutely a part of the ceremonies in which bishops lay their hands on new bishops, priests and deacons, in ordination.)
The epistle urged Timothy to be a strong Christian. This was Timothy’s vocation and his duty, to love all and to care for all, first, and foremost, even beyond his responsibilities as a bishop.
St. Luke’s Gospel provides the last reading. Some trees, such as the sycamore, have deep and extended root systems. Their branches are long and mighty, their trunks tall and majestic. Mustard plants are small, their seeds tiny, but if aided by nature, sunlight, water and rich soil, they can dominate a landscape. The culture at the time of Jesus never regarded the tasks undertaken by a servant, or a slave, as voluntary for the person performing the task. Servants and slaves had duties to fulfill, as befitted their roles. Slaves, or servants, were never invited to dine with a master. Dining together represented equality and the relationship of peers.
Yet, all people, even servants, belong to God and are obligated to serve God, in the example of Jesus. Others must respect, and aid, them in this task.
Reflection
After her death, many stories were told about the late Queen Elizabeth II. She was for several years the only granddaughter of King George V and Queen Mary. Queen Mary had a special interest in her.
Once, Queen Mary, for whom the great ship now anchored at Long Beach, California, is named, took Elizabeth to a museum, to expand her knowledge of fine art.
As Elizabeth stepped from the royal limousine, the chauffeur said, “Easy does it, little lady.” Elizabeth snapped back, “I am not a little lady, I am a princess.” Her grandmother drily said, “This is true, and I hope that one day you will be a little lady. Thank the gentleman.”
People smiled when they reflected on Elizabeth’s unfailing acceptance of every person whom she met and her compassion for those in distress, such as the survivors of the savage German bombing of Britain in World War II, or the victims of 9/11 in New York, or of COVID.
