＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Habbakuk  1: 2-3; 2: 2-4

 Yahweh, how long will I cry for help while you pay no attention to me?

I denounce the oppression and you do not save. Why do you make me see injustice?Are you pleased to look on tyranny? All I see is outrage, violence and quarrels.

Then Yahweh answered me and said,“Write down the vision, inscribe it on tables so it can be easily read,  since this is a vision for an appointed time; it will not fail but will be fulfilled in due time. If it delays, wait for it, for it will come and will not be deferred. Look:

I don’t look with favor on the one who gives way; the upright, on the other hand, will live by his faithfulness.”

 

Ps 95 If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14

 For this reason I invite you to fan into a flame the gift of God you re­ceived through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not confer on us a spirit of fearfulness, but of strength, love and good judgment.  

Do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of seeing me in chains. On the con­trary, do your share in laboring for the Gospel with the strength of God. Follow the pattern of the sound doctrine which you have heard from me, concerning faith and love in Christ Jesus. Keep this precious deposit with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 17: 5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” And the Lord said,  “If you have faith even the size of a mustard seed, you may say to this tree: ‘Be uprooted and plant yourself in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

 ho among you would say to your servant coming in from the fields after plowing or tending sheep: ‘Go ahead and have your dinner’? No, you tell him: ‘Prepare my dinner. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink; you can eat and drink afterwards.’

 Do you thank this servant for doing what you told him to do? I don’t think so. And therefore, When you have done all that you have been told to do, you should say: ‘We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty.’”

 

Reflection gospel：

READ: The first reading exhorts the upright to persevere in faithfulness. In the gospel, the Lord tells us that one who is faithful in his responsibilities has nothing to boast. To be faithful as servant is our call, hence, there is nothing special about our fulfilling it. In the second reading St. Paul urges Timothy to do his share of the work to labor for the gospel.

REFLECT: Why do we give our best in the things that we do? why do we fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us with our finest efforts? Why do we labor for God? For recognition? For reward? Or to please God? real servants do their best to please their masters not thinking of anything in return or in exchange. They do their tasks simply because it is expected of them.

PRAY: Lord inspire me to serve without counting the cost and without expecting any reward.

ACT: I will obey my parents command today with joy and will not ask for or receive anything in exchange.