Daily Readings - Mon Nov 12 2018

¹Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;²In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;³But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;⁴To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:⁶If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.⁷For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;⁸But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;⁹Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Luke

Chapter 17

¹Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!²It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.³Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.⁴And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.⁵And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.⁶And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should 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.