Saturday, June 18, 2005
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."
HOMILY
Today in our Church community we see many people who give themselves generously in service to the Church. In the first reading Paul lists the qualities that must characterize men chosen to be presbyters or bishops in the local churches in his day. We might well expect many of these qualities to describe also the men and women who in many different ways aspire to serve the Church today. We might hope surely that they would be, "hospitable and lovers of goodness; steady, just, holy and self-controlled." Above all, they must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, in order that they might encourage others and refute those who oppose it.
If you were on a search committee in your church and were responsible for finding people who possess these leadership qualifications, would you yourself satisfy these criteria?
In the gospel Jesus warns his disciples not to be a person who causes others to sin. We are to be alert and watch ourselves lest we engage in such activity. While we are not to judge others, we still should not be blind when our brother sins. We are called to rebuke him. But more than that, we are to be able to forgive him when he repents. In order to forgive others constantly, we must pray as the disciples did, "Increase our faith!" Then like the tiny mustard seed we might be able to accomplish what seemed to be impossible.
PRAYER
"Lord, help me in my weakness and increase my trust in you and in your power to resist temptation. Give me the grace and strength to choose what is right and to set a good example for others, especially to those who are young in the faith."
HOMILY
Today in our Church community we see many people who give themselves generously in service to the Church. In the first reading Paul lists the qualities that must characterize men chosen to be presbyters or bishops in the local churches in his day. We might well expect many of these qualities to describe also the men and women who in many different ways aspire to serve the Church today. We might hope surely that they would be, "hospitable and lovers of goodness; steady, just, holy and self-controlled." Above all, they must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, in order that they might encourage others and refute those who oppose it.
If you were on a search committee in your church and were responsible for finding people who possess these leadership qualifications, would you yourself satisfy these criteria?
In the gospel Jesus warns his disciples not to be a person who causes others to sin. We are to be alert and watch ourselves lest we engage in such activity. While we are not to judge others, we still should not be blind when our brother sins. We are called to rebuke him. But more than that, we are to be able to forgive him when he repents. In order to forgive others constantly, we must pray as the disciples did, "Increase our faith!" Then like the tiny mustard seed we might be able to accomplish what seemed to be impossible.
PRAYER
"Lord, help me in my weakness and increase my trust in you and in your power to resist temptation. Give me the grace and strength to choose what is right and to set a good example for others, especially to those who are young in the faith."
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 4:25 PM 
