32nd Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Repairing Scandal

 

There’s a story about an old man on his deathbed speaking to his family about his regrets. He said, “When I was a lad I often played on a wide common. Near its center, two roads met and crossed, and standing at the crossroads was an old rickety signpost. I remember one day twisting the sign round in its socket, thus altering the arms and making them point in the wrong direction; and it’s haunted me ever since, how many travelers I sent down the wrong road.”

In the Gospel today, the Lord speaks about scandal. What is scandal? It’s when we send people down the wrong road, like in the story. Only the road isn’t just to the wrong town, but to sin. 

Scandal is committed when either by bad advice or bad example we encourage others to sin. And using the graphic image of the millstone, Jesus told his disciples that it would be better to die than to be the source of another’s sin. 

Scandal is terrible. It leads souls away from God. It is the very opposite of what the Church is supposed to be about. Our main mission is to lead souls to God, to make disciples, and by scandal we become a sort of anti-Christ, teaching people to pursue sin rather than righteousness, encouraging the pursuit of hell rather than heaven.

If we’ve been the source of scandal, we really need to do everything we can to repair that scandal. Certainly, that includes begging God’s mercy. But also making restitution—going to the person that we scandalized and saying, I’m sorry, I really set a bad example for you or gave bad advice. I was in error, I did not act in a way consistent with Christ, and I’m sorry. Please don’t let my sin and stupidity and error and selfishness keep you from pursuing Christ. 

It's hard and it’s humbling, but the damage done by scandal is worse—and the consequences for scandal unrepented of are eternal. The Lord is clear on this point. 

We are all prone to error, but God gives us ability to repair that error. 

May the Holy Spirit help us to identify where we have led souls away from God, to repent of that terrible error, to endeavor to repair the damage done, for the sake of the kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be people of forgiveness and mercy, endeavoring to live out the Lord’s teachings in their families, friendships, and encounters with strangers. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our young people may be blessed to be raised in faith filled homes, that they may be protected from the evils of our culture, and be granted a firm knowledge of their vocation to holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

That Christ the Good Shepherd will draw close to all who suffer, the sick, the needy, victims of injustice, and the dying. For those who suffer from exhaustion, burn-out, and depression especially from overwork or work-related stress. Let us pray to the Lord.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, all deceased members of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom and for X. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.