Homily: Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 / 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 / Luke 17:5-10
5 October 2025
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
Do you find it easy to work with a team? Or do you prefer to work alone? A friend of mine found himself working with a group of backward thinkers, whose lack of passion matched their outdated skills. He wanted to quit multiple times but he felt God wanted him to stay. So instead, he prayed desperately for divine intervention. Six (6) years later a new leader took over, boosted morale and improved efficiency. His prayers were answered. Although six (6) years seems a long time, it was still God’s perfect time.
It is not easy dealing with different personalities. There are hard-workers but there are also slackers. There are big whiners and there are silent workers. There are those who revel in the spotlight and those who choose to work behind the scenes. This is very evident even among church volunteers, isn’t it right? However, if we focus too much on personalities, nothing will get done. We will just keep getting annoyed with each other. In the First Reading, we have the prophet Habakkuk complaining in frustration over God’s delayed help. He prays and prays for divine intervention and yet God does not seem to hear or answer. God finally answers and assures him that fulfilment will come and he just needs to wait. Whenever it comes, it will never be late, because it is in God’s perfect time.
While waiting, what are we to do? We need to continue on and keep our focus. What is important is that we accomplish the task God has given us. Recently, the Philippines hosted the International Volleyball World Championships (FIVB). If we have watched any of the games we would have observed that when a player gets tired, injured, they immediately pull him out and send in a substitute. No matter how good that player is — even if he is the star — another player enters, the team adjusts, and the tournament moves on. The game does not stop. At first, it feels harsh to think that no one is truly irreplaceable. But this is the reality: the team is bigger than any single player. This is exactly what today’s Gospel is also about. Jesus reminds, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” (Luke 17:10)
Some of us might even comment, that sounds pretty discouraging. Doesn’t God value our work? Of course He does! Jesus is not telling us we are useless, but He is clarifying that the mission of God’s Kingdom is not dependent on our achievements. The Church, the Gospel, the faith — they do not rise or fall because of one person’s success or failure. Even St. Paul, as zealous as he was, told Timothy to guard the treasure of faith and pass it on, because the mission must continue beyond him.
Here is the best part: even if the Kingdom does not rely on us, God still chooses to involve us. Just like a coach who can always find another player but still puts one on the court, God delights in giving us a chance to play our part. He trusts us with His mission, not because He needs us, but because He loves us and wants us to share in His work. This is the reason Jesus warns against pride or self-adulation in ministry. The moment we start thinking, “The Church cannot go on without me,” we have missed the point. Our value is not measured by how irreplaceable we are. Our value lies in being chosen, loved, and sent.
As workers in God’s vineyard it should be our delight to serve at the pleasure of our God! Perhaps this is the real challenge: to serve faithfully without counting the cost, to do our duties without expecting applause, to give our best for the Kingdom knowing that, yes, the game will go on even without us — but how wonderful that right now, God still sends us onto the court, still places the ball in our hands. No matter how unskilled we are or how poorly we play, He still lets us play.
At the end of the day, saying “We are unprofitable servants” is not self-pity. It is humility. It is recognising that we do not serve to become heroes or stars, but rather we serve because God, in His mercy, allows us to be part of His winning team.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 