Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
November 8, 2021
Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 491
Reading I
Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
Responsorial Psalm
- (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
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.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’
you should forgive him.”
And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
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.”
Reflection: EXEMPLARY LIFE
There are three different themes in one short passage of the Gospel today: avoid being the cause of the little ones from falling into sin (stumbling); be ready to forgive generously and have deep faith even as small as a mustard seed! After the world-wide sensitive issue of child-abuse in the church, we are more than ever aware of this task. Each of us whether we are priests, religious or lay people, have a great responsibility towards the young and their integral growth as human beings. While we all feel that even if we are not models to them, we can avoid being a scandal lest they are led into sin. Since we are very much convinced that we should not be a scandal to young people by our thoughts, words and deeds, I thought of reflecting with you on the theme of helping young people to grow integrally. If we want to understand young people today, we adults have to enter into their world and learn to speak their language. Not being able to understand their world and their language itself is a block to their growth. Conflicts arise because we fail to understand their world and their language. Scandal need not only be leading young people to sin, but it can often lead to destruction and suffocation of the future of young people when we adults impose our pet dreams and plans on young people. While done in good faith, parents and elders can block the real and integral growth of young people because of their insensitivity. When we do not take young people seriously, we become a block to their growth. When we just decide for them, we do not help them to grow. When we leave them to their plight without sincere accompaniment, we do not allow them to grow. When we compare one young person with another young person, we do not allow them to bloom.