...with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness. – Titus 1:6

       It was almost dusk when our family got to Lingayen, Pangasinan on All Saints Day. We headed straight to the cemetery and saw a bunch of boys collecting melted candle wax to resell.

       An unkempt, lean boy stood by, staring at our newly lit candles. We were ready to leave and I knew that it wouldn’t be long before those two candles would disappear. So I approached the boy, gave him money, and requested him to watch over the candles for us. Inside the car, my husband, Raul, immediately expressed disapproval. There was no way that boy would  actually obey me. I was almost convinced of acting without thinking.

       Not content with the time spent at my parents’ tomb, we headed back to the cemetery the next day. The flowers were still there but the candles were nowhere in sight, not even a trace of melted wax. Raul gave me the “I-told-you-so” look as I silently admitted defeat. But lo and behold, the young boy suddenly reappeared with our two candles in hand. He had taken them home for safekeeping!

       That day, Randy, a 12-year-old disheveled boy restored our family’s belief in people. Mari Sison-Garcia (mari_sison_garcia@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Never stop believing. For we are ambassadors of Christ and we take Him everywhere we go.

Lord, give us the grace to be a lover of goodness — temperate, just, holy and self-controlled.

St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Paul has appointed Titus to look after the nascent Christian community in Crete. It is important to understand that from the beginning of the Church there has been the need for institution. It is not just about letting the Spirit lead us in His ways. We have a fundamental need for order and structure as individuals and as a community. Let us allow both charism and institution to work together in our ministries.

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 rebellious. 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 self-controlled, 9 holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.

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)

It is one thing for us to sin — it is a totally different and far worse reality to lead someone into sin. Jesus reserves some of His harshest words for those who lead others into sin, so let us avoid it at all cost. Let us be the best example as disciples of Jesus so that others will be inspired unto holiness and not sin.

Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.

1 Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one 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.”

think:  It is one thing for us to sin — it is a totally different and far worse reality to lead someone into sin.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 4-6

OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER

No one is seriously against sin more than Jesus. He came to save humanity from the evils of sin. Sin deprives man of God’s glory. While Jesus claimed and admitted that sin is inevitable, He sternly cautioned those who will cause others to sin.

       Many of us seem to be oblivious about being the cause of sin for others. We can always excuse ourselves by saying that it is their fault if they succumb to sin. But Jesus also wanted us to avoid all opportunities for sin, whether it is a place, certain persons or situations. We can include here wearing revealing clothes, bold films, actors participating in lewd movies, teaching immoralities as moral, bribery, corruption, etc. Usually those concerned are persons of authority like parents, managers, movie producers, group leaders and advertisers. They give lots of reasons to justify their actions, but the bottom line is that a sin has been committed and to be a part of it in whatever way constitutes being an accessory to it.

       The Lord still gives an opportunity to make amends for those who commit offenses against God through repentance and forgiveness. Catholicism is addition. The Catholic immediately seeks to recover and assist those who have veered away from the fold. God understands the weaknesses of His people. His mercy reminds us of our responsibility to provide opportunities for sinners to come back. Jesus knew that it was the only way change can happen. Forgiveness based on love made Jesus cry out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” He was willing to forgive His crucifiers and enemies. Only love can bring people back to God and make them stay with Him.

       This is the challenge to each and every one of us. We can do almost anything for others, but many fail when it comes to forgiveness. This hinders us from being truly good Christians. Forgiving is freeing to both parties. Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: In what ways are you being a cause of sin for others? How can you avoid this?

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for reminding us of the need to be circumspect in our actions and in our being so that we don’t cause other people to sin.