Standing at the crossroads

On November 25, 1980 two of the greatest fighters of their era stepped into a boxing ring in Louisiana in a highly anticipated showdown. Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard were expected to deliver a boxing classic, but something incredible happened in the eight round: Duran quit! He simply said 'No mas' and walked away, leaving the boxing world stunned. It was that he was hurt or being badly beaten, in fact he only trailed by 1 or 2 points on the judges scorecard, it seemed that the fight had just gone out of him... 

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'No mas'...have you ever felt that there was no more fight in you? I know I have. Well you and I are in good company. In today's first reading on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary time we can hear the anguish in the prophet Habakkuk's cry:
"How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? "

There have been times when I've felt that I've prayed all I can pray, hoped all I can hope only to be disappointed greatly and left numb and I find myself standing at a crossroad. One way is 'No Mas' and I just want to turn around and return from where I came; end of journey. The other path is found in God's response to Habakkuk:
"For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late."
'Press on' is the other path: press on to fulfillment.We can either end the journey or continue: 'No Mas' or 'Press On', which way?

The second reading also reminds me that I'm in good company; St. Paul is in prison awaiting execution and he writes to a fearful Timothy to 'press on'.  
"Stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control."
Timothy wants to say 'No Mas' and Paul is encouraging him to 'press on' to fulfillment. "Stir into flame" the gift of the Spirit and the gift of faith he advises 

I am also reminded in the Gospel that all I need is a 'mustard seed' of faith, a tiny seed of faith to take me from 'No Mas' to 'Press On' and again I find myself in good company: this time with the Apostles who implore him “Increase our faith.”  

Habakkuk, Paul, Timothy and the Apostles; It seems that they too came to the same crossroad as you and I, and we know which way they choose, because here we are. Press on. Amen