27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle C
October 2, 2022, 5pm and 11am
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton
The Vision
Today, I am focused on one word – the word “vision.”
In the first reading, God says: “Write down the vision. The vision will have its time and will not disappoint you.”
God wants to make sure that his people will remember the vision when life is tough. And it was tough for them at that time.
God wants them and us to 1) see the vision, 2) trust the vision, and 3) live the vision.
1. See the Vision
First, to see the vision.
For us, this means that we need to see Jesus himself. We are to see him as the way to God and the way to know God because he is God present with us.
And so, we need to work to see the vision that Jesus gives us. For example, we are to see his vision of God as a loving Parent.
We are to see his vision of ourselves – as human and sometimes sinful, yes, but also as worthy and beloved by God. And we are to see his vision of all humanity – of all persons as God’s sons and daughters.
This vision gradually shapes who we become as persons. It shapes how we see ourselves, others, our world, and God himself.
2. Trust the Vision
Then, with this seeing, we are to trust the vision.
Here we have to go back to the first reading – the prophet Habakkuk. The people are suffering and crying out to God.
“How long will this last, O Lord? We are surrounded by violence and destruction.
“There is strife and discord everywhere. So, how long, O Lord, how long?”
I mean, might we ourselves say similar words in today’s world or in our own personal life situation? How does God respond to this cry, this lament?
God is reassuring: “Write down the vision. The vision will have its time and will not disappoint you.”
So, we are to trust the vision. Maybe we are in the middle of difficult chemotherapy treatments.
Or maybe we are wondering how to meet all the bills with the high inflation and high cost of almost everything. In situations like these, God asks us to trust the vision.
And part of that vision is that we are not alone. We are to trust Jesus’ promise that he is always with us as our strength and our refuge, no matter what.
3. Live the Vision
And then, with this seeing and with this trust, we are to live the vision.
Jesus says today: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” In other words, we are to set out to live the vision that faith gives us and we are to live it in everyday ways.
So, a child or teen tells their parents the truth about what they did even if they will be sent to their room or grounded for a while. They live the vision by telling the truth.
Or we adults live the vision every time we stop being self-focused and instead also focus on the well-being of another. Here we live the vision of loving one another as we love ourselves – a balance that Jesus calls us to live.
Conclusion
Now, if we do all of that, this in itself will be our reward.
This is what Jesus means in our gospel passage when he talks about the servants not expecting the master to wait on them after they have worked all day. I mean, this seems like a strange passage at first sight.
It seems uncaring and callous. But, if we put it in context, Jesus isn’t talking here about how a master in his day should treat servants or how an employer today is to treat employees.
Instead, he is talking about our vision of ourselves – all of us, you and me seeing ourselves as servants of God. He doesn’t want us to expect or depend on earthly rewards, as nice as they can be.
Rather, he wants us to 1) see the vision, 2) trust the vision, and 3) live the vision. And he is saying that, if we do this, we will experience an inner satisfaction and peace, and that will be reward enough for us.
That will be a sufficient reward – even an eternal reward. That’s my take on these passages today.
