27th sunday c

 27th Sunday cycle c

October 05, 2025

Lk 17:5-10

A famous story is told of Charles Blondin, the tightrope walker who crossed Niagara Falls in the 1800s. Thousands came to watch him do the impossible—balancing on a rope with raging water below.

Blondin was not satisfied with just walking across. He made it more daring: sometimes backwards, sometimes blindfolded, sometimes even stopping to cook an omelet in the middle! (Now, that’s what I call “fast food”!)

One day, he pushed a wheelbarrow across. The crowd roared with excitement when he made it safely to the other side. Then Blondin asked, “Do you believe I can push this wheelbarrow across again?”

“YES!” the crowd shouted.

“Do you really believe?” Blondin pressed.

“YES! YES!” they cried.

And then he said, “Wonderful—who wants to get inside the wheelbarrow?” Suddenly… complete silence. 

Faith is not just cheering from the sidelines. Faith is not just saying, “Yes, I believe in God.” True faith is climbing into the wheelbarrow—entrusting our lives to the Lord even when the rope is narrow and the waters are raging.

It’s easy to say we believe in God on Sunday. It’s harder when Monday’s worries come, when we’re anxious about our family, our health, our finances. That’s when Jesus says to us: “Do you trust Me enough to get into the wheelbarrow?”

And unlike Blondin—who was only human—Jesus will never let us fall. He doesn’t just walk across the rope; He carries us in His arms. So maybe the question for us?

Are we content to just cheer from the sidelines… or are we ready to climb into the wheelbarrow of faith?

Jesus is giving us two lessons. First, mature faith is expressed in our willingness to always put God’s will as the first priority in our lives. Our true happiness consists not in any expected reward, but in simply knowing that we have accomplished our duties in fulfillment of God’s will. Hence, we readily forget ourselves and work tirelessly for God, knowing that He will come to our aid at the best opportune time. 

Second, faith grows and increases in the hearts of humble people who are like little children. Humility and faith go together. After all, faith is the humble acceptance of the fact that we are nothing, and it is God alone who supplies us with everything. And so, we turn to Him, knowing that He will not abandon or ignore us. This is very clear in the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am the maidservant of the Lord. Be it done unto me as you say.” The source of Mary’s greatness was in being an obedient and humble servant of the Lord all the days of her life. Humility is the fertile soil of the seed of faith.

We always pray. But what do we ask from God? How many times have we prayed for an increase of faith? We may not realize this, but the lack of faith in God is one of the main reasons for the troubles in the world. People depend greatly on money and human power. But they are painfully aware of how fleeting and ephemeral these are. So they are in constant insecurity and fear. Fear of losing these things impels them to turn to other ways, mostly crooked and immoral ways. And that’s when troubles come. But the man of faith has no insecurities and fears whatsoever, for his life is rooted, not in those passing things, but in the Eternal God.

Lack of faith is also the source of man’s unhappiness. Many people worship and serve God. But at the back of their minds, they think they are entitled to receive some reward, and they expect God to serve them in return. Failing to get what they expect, they are disappointed and frustrated, and they begin to search for another God. So, we witness nowadays the proliferation of false religions, all zealously proclaiming the Prosperity Gospel. This is precisely the warning of St. Paul to the Philippians: “For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. 

Let us examine ourselves: how strong is our faith? If we are still looking for miracles, if we are expecting for some reward, and if we are afraid of losing worldly conveniences, these are clear indications that our faith is still very weak. The Gospel this Sunday shows us that mature faith mainly consists in our willingness to serve God unconditionally, without counting the cost. 

In the midst of life’s uncertainties and troubles, let us hold on to Jesus who assures us, “And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). In the end, let the words of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron saint of the youth, be our firm resolve and conviction: “It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world.” Amen