Temptations to sin

JESUS said to His disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a milestone 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 THESE LITTLE ONES. Concern for one another – this is the invitation of the Gospel. And it takes various forms: Taking care not to scandalize the weak members of the community, especially the children, and correcting those who have erred and forgiving them. Jesus calls special attention not to cause the little ones to fall; doing so merits a grave punishment.

God loves especially the weak ones because they are vulnerable and have no one to defend them. Unfortunately, in the present world, more and more people find themselves victimized by the powerful. It will be tragic if we find ourselves among those who prey on the weak and vulnerable.

Let us fight every form of taking advantage of and wounding the weak.