Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17, 1-6
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
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.”
Sin should not be incited
1. Scandal. In the Gospel scandal refers to any conduct that causes or incites a lapse of faith in another person; that is to say a provocation to sin. This is something that worries Luke the Evangelist a great deal, the scandal that Christians are capable of causing in society. We Christians must avoid being a source of scandal. Scandalizing innocent and simple people is very hurtful to society. Today, as a Church, we must ask for forgiveness. You and I might also behave in a way that may lead others to leave the Church, when we are mean, when we become rabble rousers, when we gossip. We must seek to bring peace with our prayer and closeness. When you hear about or are involved in a scandal, in a provocation, take the attitude of looking at a cross and entrust yourself to Jesus Christ.
2. Forgive. Forgiveness is a process and a path. It is the key attitude of our Christian life, but how difficult it is! We all have to fight to overcome wounds and grudges that have affected our minds and hearts. There are people who have hurt us and that is why it is hard for us to forgive because they have left a difficult inheritance: pain. We will always need God’s help. Today, let’s ask Jesus to help us to forgive in order to continue living in peace and trying to achieve happiness instead of turning away in resentment and pain. And, if you have hurt someone, maybe this is the opportunity to apologize, because asking for forgiveness or forgiving can change your life and the lives of others.
3. Increase our faith. God proposes a path, and that path is faith. Only faith allows you to forgive and feel forgiven. It is faith that leads you in a different direction and also to go against the current of individualism and resentment. Today let’s ask Jesus to increase our faith, so that we may start this week with all our strength and that we may be able to offer our best to others. May his Spirit soothe and comfort us.
Always remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
