Daily Readings - Mon Nov 12 2018

¹Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God’s elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety²in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time³which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior⁴to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior⁵For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you⁶if such a man is without offense, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of self-indulgence, nor of insubordination⁷And a bishop, as a steward of God, must be without offense: not arrogant, not short-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not desiring tainted profit⁸but instead: hospitable, kind, sober, just, holy, chaste⁹embracing faithful speech which is in agreement with doctrine, so that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to argue against those who contradict

Luke

Chapter 17

¹And he said to his disciples: "It is impossible for scandals not to occur. But woe to him through whom they come²It would be better for him if a millstone were placed around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than to lead astray one of these little ones³Be attentive to yourselves. If your brother has sinned against you, correct him. And if he has repented, forgive him⁴And if he has sinned against you seven times a day, and seven times a day has turned back to you, saying, ‘I am sorry,’ then forgive him.⁵And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith.⁶But the Lord said: "If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you may say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be transplanted into the sea.’ And it would obey you

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the qualities of leadership, the importance of living out our faith with integrity, and the call to forgive and grow in faith. In the first reading from Titus, St. Paul outlines the characteristics of a bishop, emphasizing that he must be a man of faith, integrity, and moral uprightness. This passage reminds us that leadership in the Church is not about power or prestige but about serving God and His people with humility and truth. The bishop, as a steward of God, must be an example of sound doctrine and virtuous living, guiding others on the path to holiness. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples about the inevitability of scandals but warns that causing them, especially to the "little ones," is a grave sin. He calls His followers to be attentive to their own actions and to correct one another with love when they see sin. Forgiveness, Jesus emphasizes, must be generous and unconditional, even when someone offends us repeatedly. The disciples, recognizing the difficulty of living out such a radical call, ask for an increase in faith. Jesus responds by teaching that even a small amount of faith can accomplish great things, as long as it is rooted in trust and obedience to God. These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the importance of living out our faith in a way that reflects God’s truth and love. The first reading challenges us to look at how we lead and serve others, whether in formal roles or in our everyday lives. The Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to examine our relationships and our willingness to forgive and grow in faith. Together, they remind us that our faith is not just a set of beliefs but a way of life that must be lived with integrity, compassion, and trust in God. As we strive to live out our faith, let us ask for the grace to be good stewards of God’s truth, to forgive generously, and to trust in the power of even a small amount of faith to transform our lives and the world around us.