Today, in the Gospel passage, Jesus told his disciples that occasion of sin is something that each person will need to confront in his or her daily life, and “woe that that person through whom they occur.”
Jesus went on to talk about the evil or danger of causing harm to children. He said such evil act will not go unpunished. He talked about the scandal which such action will cause. The word “scandal” is from the Greek word “skandalon”, which means a stumble or slip. So, a scandalous act is act which makes one to stumble, or slip, like a stone or a banana peel which can cause a fall.
Jesus warns about the consequences of leading someone in the evil and wrong path in life, either by omission or commission. Jesus used an imagery of putting a millstone around the scandalous neck and throwing him into the sea to express a great terrible punishment that awaits the person. “Woe” to that person who make a child to fall, to slip, to stumble, to sin, in any way (Lk 17:1), Jesus says.
The Lord told His disciples and therefore all of us to live our lives worthily, and to do what He Himself has taught us. To do this, we as His disciples and followers must be filled with love, compassion and mercy in all our ways and actions. We must always strive to put God above all else, resisting the temptations and the pressures, the pull and the allures of sin, of the worldly vices, evils and wickedness, all of which are trying to turn us away from the path of God and His righteousness.
Like the disciples, may we daily ask for spiritual growth “Lord, increase our Faith”.
Today’s responsorial psalm should be our daily prayer “Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. “
The words of Saint Francis Cabrini is something to think about this week also. “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success . . . but on Jesus alone”.
May we have the grace, the wisdom to see God today and always
Have a blessed week
