FIRST READING
“Appoint elders as I directed you.”
The beginning of the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus 1 :1-9)
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Saviour; to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery and not being insubordinate. For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 24:1-2.3-4ab.5-6 (R. 6)
R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world, and all who dwell in it.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the rivers he made it firm. R/.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The clean of hands and pure of heart,
whose soul is not set on vain things. R/.
R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord.
Blessings from the Lord Shall he receive,
and right reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the people who seek him,
Who seek the face of the God of Jacob. R/.
ALLELUIA Philippians 2:15d. 16a
Alleluia. You will shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
If your brother turns to you seven times, and says, “I repent,” you must forgive him.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17:1-6)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and say, “I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
The gospel of today brings out three important points for our consideration: scandal, fraternal correction and strong faith. Causing another person to fall from grace due to my scandalous behaviour is a serious matter. Our words and actions should help our fellowmen in right living. Whenever a person goes the wrong way, we have a duty to offer correct and bring him back to the right path. Our active and strong faith in God can work miracles in our life as faith is power. How strong is my faith especially when I deal with fellow Christians?