Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection November 11, 2024

11th November 2024 (Monday)

Psalter: Week 4

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Titus 1:1-9

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of 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 before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the 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, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 (R. see 6)

R/. These are the people who seek your face, O Lord

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. You shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 17:1-6

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through 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. Pay attention 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, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you’.

Daily Gospel Reflection

Monday – Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: No one has a right to give a bad example to others and it is punishable

1. We can highlight three main points for our reflection. One is the duty to avoid bad example. The second is the duty to give a good example. The third is the duty to do fraternal correction.

2. First of all, the Lord is very serious and stern about setting bad example and scandal. It is not a silly thing and cannot be taken lightly. It is grave and so incurs a grave punishment, even to the extent of throwing the culpable person with a millstone into the sea.

3. It is so sad that day by day we are assaulted by scandals and bad examples. No sphere, no sector is an exception to this. What is all the more saddening is that those who cause them don’t have even a bit of a prick of conscience. They even feel great and happy about it and justify it as a way of the world. Such a situation is deplorable.

4. In such a context, what should be the course of action? From the part of those who cause scandal, realisation, repentance, and change of life are required. They should be conscious of the gravity of their sin. They should realise that it cannot be justified as a mere individual weakness and fault.

5. They should know that it has a pervasive effect and a wider negative influence. They should realise that it is against our very faith in God and our vocation as God’s children. It is also a failure in our fraternal duty not to mislead others but set a good example.

6. Then from the part of all, it is a threefold duty: to avoid any scandal, to give a good example, and to do fraternal correction. We must guard against any situation or instance of scandal. As the first reading from the letter to Titus directs us, we must strive to be above reproach.

7. We must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. But we must conduct ourselves as faithful stewards. We need to be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, holy, and disciplined. We must hold firm to the Word and sound doctrine.

8. Then, our approach toward those who are scandalous should not be judgmental or condemnatory. Rather we should be compassionate and forgiving. We should not disgrace them or put them to public shame by slander.

9. Our purpose is not to show others in the wrong and feel great above them. It is to arrest the scandal and transform them and win back our brethren.

10. Such fraternity and a good example are possible only by faith. It is so powerful that even a little faith like the mustard seed can move even trees. That’s why the apostles plead to increase faith.

Practice: True faith is a matter of faithfulness and a good example