Did you know that long before the soft drink Coke was produced the Bible had already a commercial on it? The “ad” goes: “Have a Coke.” In Hebrew, Hab-a-kuk!

Levity aside, “Habakkuk” is the name of an obscure prophet in the Old Testament. In the first reading of the 27th Sunday, we read about him. What’s amusing about this man is his audacity to stand up to God, saying, "How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!"

Then seeing all the violence and miseries around, he dared to question how God is governing the world. “I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?” (Hab 1,2-3)

Habakkuk may well represent a good number of us in situations when everything seems to be going wrong, when we feel that God is so distant and does not seem to care about our problems.

For instance, why does a good God allow unimaginable misery to fall on people devastated by earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other calamities?

Or, why do godless people continue to sow terror and misery as in corruption in governments as is happening in our country, kidnappings, and senseless killings?

God's answer to Habakkuk is: “Be patient. I am the Master. What I ask of you is to have faith.”

Supernatural faith means loyalty and complete confidence in God even if we do not understand His will.

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I have a friend, whose loving, caring, and devoted wife died at 60 years. Despite his staunch faith, the husband could not accept the unexpected death. He was so devastated that he thought his life had no more meaning. He even thought of ending his life. I consoled him, saying, “Jesus didn’t want to suffer, too.”

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He said at the Garden of Gethsemane, imploring his Father: “If it’s possible, take this cup (of suffering) away from me. Not my will but your will be done” (Mt 26,38-39). Did Jesus get his wish? No. He had to accept excruciating pain; eventually, death on the cross. My friend was so enlightened that later he kept reciting: “Yes, Lord your will be done.”

There are other similar trials and difficulties that severely challenge our faith like financial problems due to loss of jobs, marital problems, lingering sickness, and so on. Let’s not despair.

Faith or trust in God alone is “not enough.” As much as we must implore God’s help in crisis situations so must we do our part.

For instance, I tell people who come to me to have their cars and motorcycles blessed but I say: “My blessing is good only up to 90 kilometers per hour; what’s beyond that is your responsibility.”

Indeed, even if I pour a big holy water bottle on your vehicle if you are reckless, my blessing won’t help. Maybe we should pour the holy water on the driver!

Or, some people pray for good health but they love to eat fatty foods rich in cholesterol or can’t avoid excessive drinking or smoking.

That’s true also in solving our national problems. We may be a pre-dominantly Christian country but if our leaders do not live up to their Christian faith, and values of justice, honesty, and moral uprightness, we will never prosper as we should.

As the saying goes, “God helps those who help themselves”? In local parlance, “Nasa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa.”

May the Lord increase our faith, especially in difficult times, but we must put our faith into action.

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Pray the rosary. October is the month of the Holy Rosary and Oct. 7, is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Let’s find time to pray the rosary, especially as a family.

“The family that prays together stays together.”