Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come!” In today’s Gospel (Luke 17:1-6), Jesus gives us a two-fold message followed by words of hope. The first message is dealing with leading others astray and the second message is regarding forgiveness. We all know that sinning is wrong and that “temptations to sin are sure to come,” but Jesus tells us that causing others to sin is even worse. This raises our sin to the level of scandal. If we cause others to sin we destroy God’s desire for our redemption. If we block their way by leading them to sin, we steer them away from the resurrection and into eternal death. Jesus tells us that “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” If we cause others to sin we are causing them to drown and then our punishment would be likewise.

As we are ordered not to lead others to sin, we are also ordered to forgive those who sin against us. If we see someone sinning, Jesus tells us not to follow their example. But if they ask for forgiveness, we are to forgive them. He tells us, “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 says, `I repent,' you must forgive him.” If causing others to sin is such a great sin, then leading others to forgiveness is extremely pleasing to God. It is by our example that God rewards us.

So how is it possible to live both these demands from God? Hearing this message, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” And Jesus replied, “If you had 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.” Everything is possible for those who have faith. We can perform miracles if we have faith. Last night during Life Nite we talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and by exercising these gifts, we produced various fruits. The gifts of understanding and knowledge lead to the virtue of faith. Therefore, by asking God to increase our faith, we are asking God increase our awareness of the gifts of understanding and knowledge. These gifts which are placed in our soul increase our understanding and knowledge of the truth. Understanding prevents us from becoming apprehensive to the truth while knowledge allows us to be practical in the judgment about truth. These two gifts allow us to clearly see God’s truth as it has been set out before us. If we see God’s truth, then how can we lead others to sin and how can we not forgive those who trespass against us? If we see the truth and the light and yet lead others away, how condemned is our soul for we know what we do is wrong.

A Simple Prayer

God, you have graced my with many gifts including the gifts of the Holy Spirit,

Increase my awareness of each pf these gifts, but especially understanding and knowledge

So that I, by my example will all souls to heaven and not direct them away from redemption.

My most blessed students asked me to end this message with a simple saying and reminder to us all.

God is love!!

Michael Marcon