1st READING
Titus 1:1-9
Paul encourages Titus to be faithful to his responsibilities in Crete. It would not have been an easy task to take over the reigns of leadership from Paul. Paul is a very demanding sort of a person and thus expects much from those who work with him. This is a good thing. It is important for the health of any community that its leaders be formed well. If they are not, they will lead the people in their care astray very quickly. Jesus formed His disciples who formed the next generation of leaders. All leaders play a part in this process at one time or another ? first being formed and then later forming those who follow in their steps.
1 Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God?s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, 3 who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, 4 to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, 6 on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebelliousness. 7 For a bishop as God?s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and selfcontrolled, 9 holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able to exhort with sound doctrine and refute opponents.
P S A L M
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
1 The LORD?s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his Savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R)
G O S P E L
Luke 17:1-6
It is a serious thing for us to sin. It is even more serious if we are the cause of another person?s sin! Jesus tells His disciples in no uncertain terms of the grave nature of being the cause of the fall of another. We should strive every day to ensure that this does not happen to us. We should want to be doing everything possible to make our lives a witness that draws people to Christ and does not repel them from Him. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to work with us in this way.
1 He said to his disciples, ?Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ?I am sorry,? you should forgive him.? 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, ?Increase our faith.? 6 The Lord replied, ?If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ?Be uprooted and planted in the sea,? and it would obey you.?
my reflections
think: It is important for the health of any community that its leaders be formed well. If they are not, they will lead the people in their care astray very quickly.
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God?s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR John 8-9