32nd Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Monday - Scandal, Forgiveness, Living Faith

Scandal, forgiveness, and faith. As Lord was making his final journey toward Jerusalem, he taught his disciples what it meant to follow him, and gave brief teachings on these three topics: scandal, forgiveness, and faith.

When we hear the word scandal, we often think of some grievous act, usually by a public official, that causes outrage, a misuse of a position of power.

But the word ‘skandelon’ means a stumbling block. It’s not mere coincidence that the Lord gives this teaching about stumbling blocks as he journeys to Jerusalem. By his journey of the cross in obedience to the will of the Father, the Lord he teaches all Christians to journey to the cross in obedience to the Father. 

Scandal does the exact opposite. What makes a leader’s sins so scandalous is that they set bad example for everyone else. Scandal leads others away from God. 

The sins of a church leader are scandalous because the church leader is meant to be leading us to God, teaching us, not just by words, but by a holy way of life. Parents, too, have a particularly vital role in the faith lives of their children. And when a parent fails to set good Christian example, that is scandalous, it teaches a little one that faith can be set aside. So the Lord teaches all Christians to avoid causing scandal—to be very careful about our speech, attitude, and actions that might lead others away from God.

Secondly, he teaches about forgiveness. This is almost the other side of the coin. We should avoid scandal, but when sin occurs, we must be quick to forgive. This doesn’t mean we fail to rebuke. The Lord says we are to offer fraternal correction when a brother sins. But, when a brother repents, we are to extend mercy.

Avoid scandal. Offer fraternal correction. And forgive without limit? The apostles find these teachings so difficult that they plead for the Lord to increase their faith. That’s an excellent request. These teachings are hard. And we need real, living faith to abide by them.

There’s no way we’ll avoid causing scandal without vibrant faith in the Son of God. There’s no way we’ll be able to effectively offer fraternal correction without faith, and without faith, we’ll never be able to truly forgive.

Increase our faith Lord: through prayer, study of your word and teachings, the development of authentic virtue, increase our faith, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

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.