"Lord, increase our faith."

We all have questions. Why are people poor? Why are we poor? Why did this happen? Why did it have to be us? Why is there suffering in the world? What is God doing amidst all the suffering in the world? Why does God allow all these to happen? Why do good men suffer? Where is God? Is there God?

We seek for ready answers and immediate solutions. But many are left unanswered. The Prophet Habakkuk also asked these questions (Habakkuk 1:2-3). The answer of God was – “Write these in tablets of stone. There will be a time when all these will cease, and there will only be goodness, peace and prosperity. It may come slowly, but it will surely come.” (Habakkuk 2:2-4) God was saying through the passage – Itaga mo sa bato. Lahat ng ito matatapos din. Mananaig ang kabutihan, at mananahan kayo sa kapayapan at kasaganahan. Just believe. Manalig ka.

But it will always be an uphill climb – enduring suffering, toil for a better life, working for justice, living a clean life, resisting corruption, holding on, fighting and not quitting, keeping the faith. We also get tired. We also get hurt. We also get frustrated. Sometimes the going gets really tough. Sometimes we meet everything but appreciation. Sometimes the certainty of failure is greater than the possibility of success. Sometimes the promises of our faith are obscured by the persistence of reality. The prayer of the disciples is to be our prayer – Lord, increase our faith (Luke 17:5).

Faith is not just a disposition of the mind. It is a disposition of the mind and heart lived in action. Faith without good works is dead. (James 2:26) Faith involves proclaiming a message of hope – that amidst all the negative things happening, the goodness of God will triumph, and working in our own capacity for the triumph of God, by allowing God to triumph in our person, our relationships, our day to day life, witnessing to his goodness and will for the good of all, even if it may be difficult. After all, God is our strength.

And while we hold on in our mind and heart, and work with all our hands and might, the questions may persist. But this time, rather than asking for ready answers and quick solutions, it will be a questioning praying for God’s presence as we seek the answers ourselves.

Blessed Theresa of Calcutta shines as an example for us. She grappled with and struggled through endless questions – existential and faith questions, ultimately even asking, “Where are you God in all these suffering and pain?” I would like to believe that her questioning was a confession of trust and a prayer faith, rather than a statement of doubt and disbelief. As she questioned the existence and persistence of poverty, suffering and pains of peoples, which has caused her heart to grieve in anguish, she did her best to do what Jesus would have done were he in her place – she loved the poor, she served the suffering, she attended to those in pain. I would like to believe that daily her prayer was, “Lord, increase my faith.”

We all have questions - because we all have problems, we go through all kinds of crises, and we live in a beautiful but troubled world. The Lord invites us not seek for ready answers and quick solutions. He invites us rather to pray for faith that makes us trust that God will fulfill his promises, and that gives us the resolve to work and allow God to fulfill these promises with, through and in us.

The Servant of God John Paul II constantly reminded us what Jesus told his disciples: “Do not be afraid. Believe in God. Believe in me.” (John 14:1) Let us respond, “Lord, we sometimes doubt and question. Increase our faith.”

Have a blessed Sunday.