Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours,
Bishop
Lectionary: 491
Lectionary: 491
Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 139:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8,
9-10
R. (24b) Guide
me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
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."
For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, please go here.
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 11, LUKE 17:1-6
(Wisdom 1:1-7; Psalm 139)
(Wisdom 1:1-7; Psalm 139)
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.
Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, bishop
When Martin was in his early teens, he discovered Christianity and became a catechumen. He joined the Roman imperial army at age 15. Once, while on horseback in Gaul (modern France), he encountered a half-naked beggar and gave half of his officer's cloak to him. Later Martin had a vision of Christ wearing the cloak. Martin was released from military service, and became a student of Saint Hilary at Poitiers. Learning that the Arians had gained the upper hand in Gaul and had exiled Hilary, Martin fled to the island of Gallinaria. Later, the Emperor authorized Hilary's return. Martin became a hermit for ten years and had a reputation for holiness which attracted other monks. They formed what would become the Benedictine Abbey of Ligugé. When the bishop of Tours died in 371, Martin was the choice to replace him. Martin declined, citing his unworthiness, yet when he arrived in the city, he was declared bishop by popular acclamation, and consecrated on 4 July 372.
NOTE: Arianism taught that Christ was a creation of the Father, a creature, and not part of God. Athanasius formulated the doctrine of homoousianism which said that Christ was "consubstantial with the Father,” as we pray in the Nicene Creed
VETERAN'S DAY (USA)
Veterans Day is the American name for the international day of remembrance called Armistice Day. It falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War 1. All major hostilities of World War 1 were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Armistice Day was first commemorated in the United States by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, and many states made it a legal holiday. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 inviting all Americans to observe the day, and made it a legal holiday nationwide in 1938. Today, Veterans Day is a celebration to honor all of America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Remembrance Day (Canada)
Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve their country during times of war, conflict and peace. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served their country in this way, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that all may live in peace.
Monday 11 November 2019
St Martin of Tours
Wisdom 1:1-7. Psalm 138(139):1-10. Luke 17:1-6.
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way – Psalm 138(139):1-10
‘Increase our faith’
A film called Pay it Forward showed a young boy
sharing out good with faith and generosity to others. As a result, miracles of
grace, hope and forgiveness occurred. We all have influence over others.
Parents especially influence their children, but children also influence
parents, and we all affect those around us. Whatever good or bad we do has
ripple effects, and builds the stores of good or bad in the world. Even what no
one sees is seen and known by God, through and through. Creating obstacles for
little ones has lasting effects; we have seen how one bad action can taint
lives for generations. On the other hand, good feeds on good and faith
increases faith, even if it starts as small as a mustard seed. How can we build
the stores of faith, forgiveness and care for the little ones in our lives
today?
Saint Martin of Tours
Saint of the Day for November 11
(c. 316 – November 8, 397)
 |
| Statue of Saint Martin of Tours on the dome of the Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours | photo by ZohaStel |
Saint Martin of Tours’ Story
A conscientious objector who wanted to be a monk; a monk who was
maneuvered into being a bishop; a bishop who fought paganism as well as pleaded
for mercy to heretics—such was Martin of Tours, one of the most popular of saints
and one of the first not to be a martyr.
Born of pagan parents in what is now Hungary, and raised in
Italy, this son of a veteran was forced at the age of 15 to serve in the army.
Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was
said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, he refused a war
bonus and told his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve
Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of
Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight.” After great difficulties, he was
discharged and went to be a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers.
He was ordained an exorcist and worked with great zeal against
the Arians. Martin became a monk, living first at Milan and later on a small
island. When Hilary was restored to his see following his exile, Martin
returned to France and established what may have been the first French
monastery near Poitiers. He lived there for 10 years, forming his disciples and
preaching throughout the countryside.
The people of Tours demanded that he become their bishop. Martin
was drawn to that city by a ruse—the need of a sick person—and was brought to
the church, where he reluctantly allowed himself to be consecrated bishop. Some
of the consecrating bishops thought his rumpled appearance and unkempt hair
indicated that he was not dignified enough for the office.
Along with Saint Ambrose, Martin rejected Bishop Ithacius’s
principle of putting heretics to death—as well as the intrusion of the emperor
into such matters. He prevailed upon the emperor to spare the life of the
heretic Priscillian. For his efforts, Martin was accused of the same heresy,
and Priscillian was executed after all. Martin then pleaded for a cessation of
the persecution of Priscillian’s followers in Spain. He still felt he could
cooperate with Ithacius in other areas, but afterwards his conscience troubled
him about this decision.
As death approached, Martin’s followers begged him not to leave
them. He prayed, “Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work.
Your will be done.”
Reflection
Martin’s worry about cooperation with evil reminds us that
almost nothing is either all black or all white. The saints are not creatures
of another world: They face the same perplexing decisions that we do. Any
decision of conscience always involves some risk. If we choose to go north, we
may never know what would have happened had we gone east, west, or south. A
hyper-cautious withdrawal from all perplexing situations is not the virtue of
prudence; it is in fact, a bad decision, for “not to decide is to decide.”
Saint Martin of Tours is the Patron Saint of:
Horses
Soldiers
South Africa
Soldiers
South Africa
Lectio Divina: Luke 17:1-6
Lectio Divina
Monday, November 11, 2019
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)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét