32 Week in Ordinary Time, Monday, November 13, 2006

Scripture: Titus 1:1-9. Psalm 24:1-6 . Luke 17:1-6:

We Marianists (Society of Mary) have a saying that goes like this: "We teach only in order to educate." I thought of this expression in reflecting on the readings. Paul, in addressing Titus, his true son in the faith, is giving him words of advice about his conduct, his administration, and how he is to deal with the people in Crete. Titus is a type of overseer at this point in the developing Christian communities and Paul is helping him by educating him in a wholesome manner. This involves practical things in pastoral work as well as living a life of virtue whereby Titus can be a model for those who are to follow Jesus' call to discipleship. For Paul holiness is balance, wholesomeness, and a holistic approach to life. Some of the virtues he wishes to remind Titus of are generosity, goodness, justice, and holding fast to the truths of faith that have been handed down to him.

Jesus, too, is educating his apostles on the road up to Jerusalem. They have been learning all along the way as he instructs them both in word and example. Today they and we are being told to avoid scandal in our way of life. We are especially advised to be most sensitive and aware of those who are young and not cause any type of harm to them and, in fact,to prevent it. The scandal saying seems to center around children. We religious educators and ministers of the word and sacraments are to be exemplars in this area. Jesus also tells us as disciples to be forgiving people We need to be forgiven, too, for our faults and sins; we above all, must forgive those who have hurt or sinned against us. We are not to harbor past hurts by inflict our moods on others. Faith is asked for by the disciples as they listen to Jesus. We, too, are encouraged by these words of Jesus to develop faith after the example of the mustard seed...slowly, surely, and with productivity. This is a call to what Paul names "faith of the heart." It is also a dimension of faith that Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, the Founder of the Marianist Family encourages his members both lay and religious to cultivate. May we all as parents, pastors, and teachers become educators. We teach, we give good example, only in order to educate. Amen.