Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”
And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
“And if he wrongs you seven times in one day… you should forgive him”
Fr. Pedro-José YNARAJA i Díaz (El Montanyà, Barcelona, Spain)Today, the Gospel presents us with three important themes. First, our attitude toward children. While other passages have praised the virtues of childhood, this one warns us about the harm that can be done to them.
To ‘scandalize’ does not mean to shock or surprise as we might assume. The Greek word used by the evangelist is ‘skandalon’, which means an object that causes someone to stumble or slip—like a stumbling block or a hidden obstacle. Children must be shown great respect, and woe to anyone who leads them into sin in any way (cf. Lk 17:1). Jesus warns of severe punishment for such a person, using a vivid and dramatic image. In the Holy Land, you can still see ancient millstones that resemble massive weights. Throwing the one who leads others astray into the sea with such a stone around their neck expresses a terrible judgment. Jesus uses language that borders on dark humor. Woe to us if we harm children or lead them into sin! And there are many ways to harm them: lying, fostering selfish ambition, pursuing success unjustly, or catering to their vanity.
Secondly, forgiveness. Jesus asks us to forgive as many times as needed, even if it’s repeatedly on the same day, as long as the other person is repentant, even if it pains our soul: 'If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him' (Lk 17:3). The measure of charity is the capacity to forgive.
Third, faith. More than a wealth of understanding (in a merely human sense), faith is a 'state of mind,' the fruit of experiencing God, and the ability to act with trust in Him. “Faith is the beginning of true life,” says St. Ignatius of Antioch. Those who act with faith can achieve amazing things, as the Lord says: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Lk 17:6).
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“To practice fraternal correction — which is so deeply rooted in the Gospel — is a proof of supernatural trust and affection. Be thankful for it when you receive it, and don’t neglect to practice it with those around you.” (Saint Josemaria)
“Faith trusting in Christ, welcoming him, letting him transform us, following him to the very end makes humanly impossible things possible in every situation.” (Benedict XVI)
“Anyone who uses the power at his disposal in such a way that it leads others to do wrong becomes guilty of scandal and responsible for the evil that he has directly or indirectly encouraged. ‘Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2287)
