The First Reading is recorded in Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4. As the book opens the prophet Habakkuk complains to the LORD that violence and evil are all around and the LORD does not respond to Habakkuk’s pleas. Sounds like today, doesn’t it? Notice as the first section ends the prophet decides to wait and see what the LORD will do. The LORD’s response is recorded in 2:1-4. The LORD encourages Habakkuk, and us, to wait for His response, He will respond at the right time. In the meantime, we wait in faith, knowing that the LORD will respond.
Lord God, keeper of promises, fill us with faith in Your faithfulness, trusting You to act at the right time. We thank You that You have acted at the right time in Your Son Jesus to redeem us. Amen.

The psalm is Psalm 62. This psalm continues the theme of the First Reading, that violence and oppression are all around, but that the psalmist will wait for the LORD to act at the right time. Notice the emphasis on God’s actions, and that we can have faith He will act.
Faithful Lord, we rejoice that Your wisdom and knowledge exceed what we fully understand. Enable us to patiently wait for Your actions to finally set all things right. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Second Reading is recorded in 2 Timothy 1:1-14. Again, we see the emphasis on faith as Paul writes to the young pastor Timothy, encouraging Timothy to remain faithful to his call from the Lord as he proclaims the Gospel of Jesus. Even in the face of hardship and persecution, the apostle Paul continued to trust in the Lord and to proclaim the message of redemption in Jesus, and he encourages Timothy to do the same. May we also remain faithful to the proclamation of Jesus, even if we face resistance to the message of Jesus.
Jesus, we praise You that You remained faithful to go to the cross to redeem us. Continue to fill us with Your love for others and with Your power as we share the Gospel of redemption through Your death and resurrection. Amen.

The Gospel is recorded in Luke 17:1-10. How many times do we forgive others? How many times does the Lord forgive us? Jesus urges us to forgive as many times as it takes when repentance and forgiveness are sought. Jesus wants reconciliation with God and with each other, that’s why He died and rose again, that we might be reconciled to God and each other. Let us forgive as we have been forgiven. The disciples understood how hard this is, so they pleaded for an increase in faith. May we pray the same prayer as well.
Jesus then reminds us that we are servants of His, called to serve in His Name. Let us remember that even though He is King of kings and Lord and lords, He came to serve, and in so doing to redeem us. Let us serve others so that they can see Jesus and be drawn to Him.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have won forgiveness and reconciliation with God for us through Your death and resurrection. Let this reconciliation spill over into all areas of our lives, enabling us to forgive as You have forgiven us, increasing our faith so that we can forgive.
Then Lord, enable us to serve as You have already served, remembering that You are our Lord and Savior, and that in serving others we serve You and make You known to them. Enable us to be faithful servants. In Your Name we pray. Amen.