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To: All
Homily of the Day
November 12, 2018

In our 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, so that they might encourage others and refute those who oppose it.

In the Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples not to be those who cause others to sin. Applying this to ourselves, we must be alert and watch ourselves lest we engage in such activity. While we must not judge others, we still should not be blind when our brother sins. We are called to rebuke him. But more than that, we must be able to forgive him when he repents. 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.


32 posted on 11/12/2018 7:35:35 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Espanol

All Issues > Volume 34, Issue 6

<< Monday, November 12, 2018 >> St. Josaphat
 
Titus 1:1-9
View Readings
Psalm 24:1-6 Luke 17:1-6
Similar Reflections
 

"FATHER, FORGIVE" (LK 23:34)

 
"If he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times a day turns back to you saying, 'I am sorry,' forgive him." �Luke 17:4
 

We are made in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:27). As disciples of Jesus, we try to be like Jesus in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). In this way, we are like God, for Jesus is God and the "exact Representation of the Father's Being" (Heb 1:3).

To be like God means to work, suffer, give, love, and forgive as God does. This means we must forgive seven times a day (Lk 17:4) and seventy times seven times (Mt 18:22), for we and billions of others frequently offend God and He keeps forgiving us. It is a conservative estimate to say that God forgives billions of times daily. That's what "seven" means � an infinite number.

To be like God, we too must forgive repeatedly and always. We must forgive those closest to us. Who else has the chance to wrong us seven times a day? We must forgive others repeatedly for the worst of injustices, even for scandals (Lk 17:1ff). Finally, we must forgive by God's standards. His standards are not limited to just praying for or being nice to those who have hurt us; they also require giving offenders affection, gifts, and honor (Lk 15:20ff).However, "nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37). By God's grace, forgive everyone for everything.

 
Prayer: Father, may I and others be shocked by my forgiving � both those who apologize and those who don't.
Promise: "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' " —Lk 17:5
Praise: St. Josaphat was martyred while risking his life for Church unity. St. Josaphat, pray that we all may be one, as the Father and Son are one (Jn 17:21).

33 posted on 11/12/2018 7:38:02 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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