Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and
Martyr
Lectionary: 491
Lectionary: 491
Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.
For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you,
on condition that a man be blameless,
married only once, with believing children
who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious.
For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant,
not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive,
not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness,
temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,
holding fast to the true message as taught
so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine
and to refute opponents.
for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.
For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you,
on condition that a man be blameless,
married only once, with believing children
who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious.
For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant,
not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive,
not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness,
temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,
holding fast to the true message as taught
so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine
and to refute opponents.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 24:1B-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord,
this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
AlleluiaPHIL 2:15D, 16A
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 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."
"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."
Meditation: "Lord Jesus increase our faith"
What's the driving force in your life? Jesus speaks of
two forces at work in our lives - the power of the temptation to sin and cause
harm and the power of faith to overcome obstacles and difficulties that stand
in the way of loving God and our neighbor. The Greek word for temptation (scandalon)
is the same as the English word scandal. The original meaning of
scandal is a trap or a stumbling block which causes one to trip and fall. The
Scriptures warn us about the snare or enticement to go astray and to do what is
evil. "Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from
the snares of evildoers!" (Psalm 141:9) "Whoever loves a
brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause
for stumbling" (1 John 2:10).
Jesus commands us to not give bad example or lead
others into sin
The Jews held that it was an unforgivable sin to teach another to sin. If we teach another to sin, he or she in turn may teach still another, until a train of sin is set in motion with no foreseeable end. Jesus warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that they must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith.
The Jews held that it was an unforgivable sin to teach another to sin. If we teach another to sin, he or she in turn may teach still another, until a train of sin is set in motion with no foreseeable end. Jesus warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that they must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith.
The power of faith for overcoming obstacles
While Jesus warns against the danger of giving bad example and causing scandal, he also demonstrates the power of faith for overcoming obstacles and temptation to sin and wrongdoing. What did Jesus mean when he said that our faith can move trees and mountains as well (see Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:23)? The term "mountain remover" was used for someone who could solve great problems and difficulties.
While Jesus warns against the danger of giving bad example and causing scandal, he also demonstrates the power of faith for overcoming obstacles and temptation to sin and wrongdoing. What did Jesus mean when he said that our faith can move trees and mountains as well (see Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:23)? The term "mountain remover" was used for someone who could solve great problems and difficulties.
The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in faith and to rely
on God's strength
Don't we often encounter challenges and difficulties which seem beyond our power or strength to handle? What appears impossible to human power is possible to those who believe in God's power. Paul the Apostle reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do you trust in God's help and rely on his strength when you are put to the test or led into temptation?
Don't we often encounter challenges and difficulties which seem beyond our power or strength to handle? What appears impossible to human power is possible to those who believe in God's power. Paul the Apostle reminds us, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do you trust in God's help and rely on his strength when you are put to the test or led into temptation?
Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know
God personally, to understand his truth clearly, and to live in the power of
his love and mercy freely. God calls us to be like him - holy, loving and wise.
God expects more from us than we can simply do by ourselves. That is why the
Lord Jesus unites us to himself through the gift of faith so that we may live
in the power of his love through the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within
us (Romans 5:5). The Lord gives us the strength of the Holy Spirit who helps us
to grow strong in faith, persevere in hope, and endure in love.
Faith is the key that unlocks God's power in our lives
Faith in God is the key for removing obstacles and difficulties which keep us from doing his will. We belong to God and our lives are no longer our own. Our joy and privilege is to follow the Lord Jesus and to serve in the power of his love, truth, and goodness. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to work in and through us for his glory. For our faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and with obedience - an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. Do you trust in the grace and strength which God freely gives to help you resist temptation and to overcome obstacles in doing his will?
Faith in God is the key for removing obstacles and difficulties which keep us from doing his will. We belong to God and our lives are no longer our own. Our joy and privilege is to follow the Lord Jesus and to serve in the power of his love, truth, and goodness. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to work in and through us for his glory. For our faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and with obedience - an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. Do you trust in the grace and strength which God freely gives to help you resist temptation and to overcome obstacles in doing his will?
"Lord Jesus, you give us victory over
the destructive forces of sin and harmful desires that keep us from doing your
will. Give me the strength to always choose what is good and to reject what is
wrong. May your love and truth rule my heart that I may give good example to
others and guide those who need your wise instruction and help."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: To increase faith is to strengthen it by the
Holy Spirit, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444
AD)
"They ask, 'Add faith to us.' They do not ask
simply for faith, for perhaps you might imagine them to be without faith. They
rather ask Christ for an addition to their faith and to be strengthened in
faith. Faith partly depends on us and partly is the gift of the divine grace.
The beginning of faith depends on us and our maintaining confidence and faith
in God with all our power. The confirmation and strength necessary for this
comes from the divine grace. For that reason, since all things are possible
with God, the Lord says that all things are possible for him who believes (Mark
9:23). The power that comes to us through faith is of God. Knowing this,
blessed Paul also says in the first epistle to the Corinthians, 'For to one is
given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge
according to the same Spirit, and to another faith in the same Spirit' (1
Corinthians 12:8). You see that he has placed faith also in the catalogue of
spiritual graces. The disciples requested that they might receive this from the
Savior, contributing also what was of themselves. By the descent upon them of
the Holy Spirit, he granted it to them after the fulfillment of the
dispensation. Before the resurrection, their faith was so feeble that they were
liable even to the charge of being 'little of faith'." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILIES
113-16)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, LUKE 17:1-6
(Titus 1:1-9, Psalm 24)
(Titus 1:1-9, Psalm 24)
KEY VERSE: "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you" (v. 6).
TO KNOW: Luke collected various teachings of Jesus, such as: avoiding offenses (Lk 17:1-2); how to treat an offending member of the community (v. 3-4); and the efficacy of faith (v. 5-6). The first saying involved those who caused innocent people to sin. Jesus told the future leaders of the Church that a terrible chastisement awaited those who scandalized his "little ones." Then Jesus addressed the matter of forgiving other members of the community who mistreated them. A disciple should be willing to forgive fellow Christians as often as they were asked ("70 x 7" in Mt 18:22). Faced with these challenges, the disciples cried, "Increase our faith" (Lk 17:5). Jesus told them that they only needed a small amount of faith to accomplish great works. With faith the size of a mustard seed, they could cast a huge mulberry tree into the sea. This figure of speech referred to the accomplishment of things that were very difficult, but not impossible with Jesus at our side.
TO LOVE: What obstacles stand in the way of my spiritual growth?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to heed your words so that I might grow in charity and faith.
Monday 12
November 2018
St Josaphat.
Titus 1:1-9. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Luke 17:1-6.
Titus 1:1-9. Psalm 23(24):1-6. Luke 17:1-6.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see
your face – Psalm 23(24):1-6.
‘Grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our
Saviour.’
Paul is espousing all the qualities one must have in order to be
a follower or disciple of Jesus. If Titus is to carry out the work of the
church in Crete, then he needs guidance. ‘He must not be arrogant or
quick-tempered. He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be
self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.’
If we are to spread the Good News, we would do well to aspire to
possessing these qualities. Let us pray then for God’s grace to accept our
faults and failings and for the courage to change the things we can, so that like
Titus, we too, can make our world a better place.
Saint Josaphat
Saint of the Day for November 12
(c. 1580 – November 12, 1623)
 |
| Icon of St. martyr Josaphat Kutsevych, Archbishop of Polotsk | photo by Mykola Swarnyk |
Saint Josaphat’s Story
In 1964, newspaper photos of Pope Paul VI embracing Athenagoras
I, the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, marked a significant step toward
the healing of a division in Christendom that has spanned more than nine
centuries.
In 1595, the Orthodox bishop of Brest-Litovsk in present-day
Belarus and five other bishops representing millions of Ruthenians, sought
reunion with Rome. John Kunsevich—who took the name Josaphat in religious
life—was to dedicate his life, and die for the same cause. Born in what is now
Ukraine, he went to work in Wilno and was influenced by clergy adhering to the
1596 Union of Brest. He became a Basilian monk, then a priest, and soon was
well known as a preacher and an ascetic.
He became bishop of Vitebsk at a relatively young age, and faced
a difficult situation. Most monks, fearing interference in liturgy and customs,
did not want union with Rome. By synods, catechetical instruction, reform of
the clergy, and personal example, however, Josaphat was successful in winSt
ning the greater part of the Orthodox in that area to the union.
But the next year a dissident hierarchy was set up, and his opposite
number spread the accusation that Josaphat had “gone Latin” and that all his
people would have to do the same. He was not enthusiastically supported by the
Latin bishops of Poland.
Despite warnings, he went to Vitebsk, still a hotbed of trouble.
Attempts were made to foment trouble and drive him from the diocese: A priest
was sent to shout insults to him from his own courtyard. When Josaphat had him
removed and shut up in his house, the opposition rang the town hall bell, and a
mob assembled. The priest was released, but members of the mob broke into the
bishop’s home. Josaphat was struck with a halberd, then shot, and his body
thrown into the river. It was later recovered and is now buried in St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome. He was the first saint of the Eastern Church to be canonized
by Rome.
Josaphat’s death brought a movement toward Catholicism and
unity, but the controversy continued, and the dissidents, too, had their
martyr. After the partition of Poland, the Russians forced most Ruthenians to
join the Russian Orthodox Church.
Reflection
The seeds of separation were sown in the fourth century when the
Roman Empire was divided into East and West. The actual split came over customs
such as using unleavened bread, Saturday fasting, and celibacy. No doubt the
political involvement of religious leaders on both sides was a large factor,
and doctrinal disagreement was present. But no reason was enough to justify the
present tragic division in Christendom, which is 64 percent Roman Catholic, 13
percent Eastern—mostly Orthodox—Churches, and 23 percent Protestant, and this
when the 71 percent of the world that is not Christian should be experiencing
unity and Christ-like charity from Christians!
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 17:1-6
Lectio Divina:
Monday, November 12, 2018
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God of power and mercy,
protect us from all harm.
Give us freedom of spirit
and health in mind and body
to do your work on earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
protect us from all harm.
Give us freedom of spirit
and health in mind and body
to do your work on earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to His disciples,
"scandals are sure to come, but alas for the one through whom they occur!
It would be better for such a person to be thrown into the sea with a millstone
round the neck than to be the downfall of a single one of these little ones.
Keep watch on yourselves! If your brother does something wrong, rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Keep watch on yourselves! If your brother does something wrong, rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
3) Reflection
• Today the Gospel gives us three
different words of Jesus. One on how to avoid causing scandal or scandalizing
the little ones, the other one on the importance of pardon and a third one on
faith in God which we should have.
• Luke 17, 1-2: First word: To avoid scandal. “Jesus said to His disciples: “It is unavoidable that there are scandals, but alas for the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around the neck than to be the downfall of a single one of these little ones”. To cause scandal means to make people trip and fall. At the level of faith, it means that which drives away the person from the right path. To scandalize the little ones means to be the cause of their drawing away from God and to make them lose their faith in God. Anyone who does this deserves the following sentence: “A millstone round the neck and to be thrown into the sea!”. Why such severity? Because Jesus identifies Himself with the little ones who are the poor (Mt 25, 40.45). They are those He prefers and the first ones to whom the Good News will be given (cf. Lk 4, 18). Anyone who touches them touches Jesus!, Because of our way of living faith, we Christians throughout the centuries have been the cause of why the little ones have many times drawn away from the Church and have gone towards other religions. They have not been able any longer to believe, as the Apostle said in the Letter to the Romans quoting the Prophet Isaiah: “In fact, it is your fault that the name of God is held in contempt among the nations.” (Rm 2, 24; Is 52, 5; Ez 36, 22). Up to what point are we guilty? Is it our fault? Do we also deserve the millstone around the neck?
• Luke 17, 3-4: Second word: Forgive your brother. “If your brother does something wrong rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry’, you must forgive him”. Seven times a day! This is not little! Jesus asks very much! In the Gospel of Matthew, He says that we should forgive seventy times seven! (Mt 18, 22). Forgiveness and reconciliation are some of the themes on which Jesus insists the most. The grace to be able to forgive persons and to reconcile them among themselves and with God was granted to Peter (Mt 16, 19), to the Apostles (Jn 20, 23), and to the community (Mt 18, 18). The parable on the need to forgive our neighbor leaves no doubt: if we do not forgive our brothers we cannot receive pardon from God (Mt 18, 22-35; 6, 12.15; Mk 11, 26). There is no proportion between the pardon that we receive from God and the pardon that we have to offer to our neighbor. The pardon with which God forgives us gratuitously is like ten thousand talents compared to one hundred denarii (Mt 18, 23-35). It is estimated that ten thousand talents are 174 tons of gold. One hundred denarii are not more than 30 grams of gold.
• Luke 17, 5-6: Third word: Increase our faith. “The apostles said to the Lord: ‘Increase our faith!’” The Lord answered: If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you”. In this context in Luke, the question of the apostles seems to be motivated by the order of Jesus to forgive, in one day, up to seventy times seven the brother or the sister who sins against us. It is not easy to forgive. It is only with great faith in God that it is possible to reach the point of having such a great love that it makes it possible for us to forgive, in one day, up to seventy times seven the brother who sins against us. Humanly speaking, in the eyes of the world, to forgive in this way is foolish and a scandal. However, for us this attitude is the expression of divine wisdom which forgives us infinitely much more. Paul said: “We announce Christ crucified: a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness for the gentiles (I Co 1, 23).
• Luke 17, 1-2: First word: To avoid scandal. “Jesus said to His disciples: “It is unavoidable that there are scandals, but alas for the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around the neck than to be the downfall of a single one of these little ones”. To cause scandal means to make people trip and fall. At the level of faith, it means that which drives away the person from the right path. To scandalize the little ones means to be the cause of their drawing away from God and to make them lose their faith in God. Anyone who does this deserves the following sentence: “A millstone round the neck and to be thrown into the sea!”. Why such severity? Because Jesus identifies Himself with the little ones who are the poor (Mt 25, 40.45). They are those He prefers and the first ones to whom the Good News will be given (cf. Lk 4, 18). Anyone who touches them touches Jesus!, Because of our way of living faith, we Christians throughout the centuries have been the cause of why the little ones have many times drawn away from the Church and have gone towards other religions. They have not been able any longer to believe, as the Apostle said in the Letter to the Romans quoting the Prophet Isaiah: “In fact, it is your fault that the name of God is held in contempt among the nations.” (Rm 2, 24; Is 52, 5; Ez 36, 22). Up to what point are we guilty? Is it our fault? Do we also deserve the millstone around the neck?
• Luke 17, 3-4: Second word: Forgive your brother. “If your brother does something wrong rebuke him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry’, you must forgive him”. Seven times a day! This is not little! Jesus asks very much! In the Gospel of Matthew, He says that we should forgive seventy times seven! (Mt 18, 22). Forgiveness and reconciliation are some of the themes on which Jesus insists the most. The grace to be able to forgive persons and to reconcile them among themselves and with God was granted to Peter (Mt 16, 19), to the Apostles (Jn 20, 23), and to the community (Mt 18, 18). The parable on the need to forgive our neighbor leaves no doubt: if we do not forgive our brothers we cannot receive pardon from God (Mt 18, 22-35; 6, 12.15; Mk 11, 26). There is no proportion between the pardon that we receive from God and the pardon that we have to offer to our neighbor. The pardon with which God forgives us gratuitously is like ten thousand talents compared to one hundred denarii (Mt 18, 23-35). It is estimated that ten thousand talents are 174 tons of gold. One hundred denarii are not more than 30 grams of gold.
• Luke 17, 5-6: Third word: Increase our faith. “The apostles said to the Lord: ‘Increase our faith!’” The Lord answered: If you had faith like a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you”. In this context in Luke, the question of the apostles seems to be motivated by the order of Jesus to forgive, in one day, up to seventy times seven the brother or the sister who sins against us. It is not easy to forgive. It is only with great faith in God that it is possible to reach the point of having such a great love that it makes it possible for us to forgive, in one day, up to seventy times seven the brother who sins against us. Humanly speaking, in the eyes of the world, to forgive in this way is foolish and a scandal. However, for us this attitude is the expression of divine wisdom which forgives us infinitely much more. Paul said: “We announce Christ crucified: a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness for the gentiles (I Co 1, 23).
4) Personal questions
• In my life, have I been a cause
of scandal for my neighbor? Have others been a cause of scandal for me?
• Am I capable to forgive seven times a day my brother or my sister who offends me, or even seventy times seven times a day?
• Am I capable to forgive seven times a day my brother or my sister who offends me, or even seventy times seven times a day?
5) Concluding prayer
Sing to Him, make music for Him,
recount all His wonders!
Glory in His holy name,
let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! (Ps 105,2-3)
recount all His wonders!
Glory in His holy name,
let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! (Ps 105,2-3)
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