Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

LECTIONARY
491

FIRST READING

WIS 1:1-7

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.

PSALM

PS 139:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10

Response: 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.

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.

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.

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.

GOSPEL

LK 17:1-6

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."

Daily Reflection

This week, the readings are taken from the Book of Wisdom which urges us to be aware of our behaviour, to value our personal integrity, to rebuke injustice.

The teacher, who composed the book of Wisdom, provides advice that is interwoven with a sense of God’s presence in all things. Nothing is too small, no question too trifling, no challenge too large nor any problem too complex, for the influence of God not to be near, helping us to find our way.

Today’s Gospel looks at a problem that often bothers people: how to cope with moral laxity. Jesus warns against scandal, which means putting an obstacle (skandalon) to trip someone else; leading them astray, away from the Lord. And when moral standards around us crumble, we ought to provide the spiritual support that is needed, trusting first in God’s guidance.

Is our faith in God strong enough to support this need? Jesus assures us that faith the size of mustard-seed is sufficient! Like the apostles, we just need to pray, “Lord, increase our faith.”