HOW LONG?

He had a curious name: Habakkuk, which perhaps means he who fights. He lived in the seventh century B.C., when Babylon threatened the small kingdom of Israel. His prophecy is only 56 verses (then divided into three chapters). Furthermore, his times, very similar to ours, were marked by violence and oppression. What do you do when the bully emerges, the Law is paralyzed, and justice fails to emerge from intrigue? There are two paths: either discouragement and therefore resignation, or invective, in this case against God, whom Habakkuk bluntly calls incompetent, blind, and deaf. “How long, O Lord, shall I cry for help, / and you will not hear? / will I cry out to you: Violence! / and you will not save. (…) // Do you remain a spectator of oppression? (Hab 1:2-3). After raising his resentful accusation to Heaven, he waits and listens: “I will stand as a sentinel on the fortress, and watch, to see what he will say to me, what he will answer to my cries” (Hab 2:1). In the face of prevailing evil, it will not be easy for God to defend himself. But in the moment of the whirlwind, He makes his voice heard and pronounces a judgment: “Behold, he who is not upright in his soul will fall, / but the just will live by his faith” (Hab 2:4). There is a historical nemesis, certainly, but within an infinite patience. Our author even predicts the suicidal end of power (cf. Hab 2:7) and of those who support it, who leave behind an infamous name and a deplorable memory. But when will this happen? This is the crux and what is so critical. At a precise time, which, however, we must be prepared to wait for, as we recalled, all this will happen (cf. Hab 2:3). The lamp, in this nocturnal vigil, where at times it seems that darkness extinguishes every last vestige of light, is faith. Yes, the Lord who dwells in his holy temple is a God who does not fail in his promise. Let all the earth then be silent before Him (cf. Hab 2:20). What saves, however, is not our faith (always fragile and imperfect) but divine fidelity (always stable and unfailing). Only then can we sing the Easter Epinicium starting from historical and personal contexts marked by trial and pain (cf. Habakkuk 3:2, 16).

N.B.: In these Sundays, until Advent, we will focus on the first reading of the Eucharistic Liturgy. We leave it to our readers to complete it with the Gospel.

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey