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.”
Woe to you!
1. Scandal. Throughout your life, you will experience situations involving scandal, where you might find yourself dragged into problems you didn’t create and may even be required to justify actions you didn’t commit. The most difficult challenge, however, is facing constant scandals initiated by others against you. I recall a time when someone slandered me—actually, it was outright defamation. The pain was significant, not only because the accusations were false, but also because they came from someone deeply committed to the Church, a consecrated person. This experience caused me to withdraw and constantly worry about what others might be saying about me, and how I should react to further gossip. My thoughts became overwhelming, and fear began to isolate me, until I realized that my life couldn’t come to a stop because of “what people might say,” and I couldn’t stop doing things for fear of other people’s opinions. I understood that living in fear of what people might say is, in itself, the greatest scandal—failing to live authentically because of fear.
2. Little ones. So many people today are scandalized by our failings and our jealousy—not only within the Church, but also among family and close friends. Sometimes, driven by resentment or anger, we lash out or hurt people who don’t deserve it, or who simply have nothing to do with the situation. It’s important to learn how to avoid causing scandal, to be mindful of whom we speak about and the manner in which we speak. Strive to live peacefully, make a commitment to refrain from attacking others, and remember that evangelizing is about sharing our faith and also offering comfort and support to those around us.
3. Faith. Faith is what encourages us to persevere and reminds us that, with God, all things are possible. Forgiving and letting go is never easy, but with faith you’ll be able to do so. I won’t deny that it will hurt, but you’ll be able to endure hardships and rise again.
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.
