Celebration: St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church. (+461). During his pontificate, the Council of (451) defined that there is in Christ one divine person and two natures, divine and human. It was a confirmation of his Epistola Dogmatica (Tomus) to the Patriach Flavian of . He vigorously defended the unity of the Church. He pushed back the onrush of the barbarians under Attila.
Table of the Word
First Reading: Wisdom 1:1–7
Gospel: Luke 17:1–6
Theme: Forgiveness beyond measure and Faith that Perseveres.
Reflection
Today’s being Monday in the 32nd week in the Ordinary Time of the year (Year I), the liturgy invites us into the heart of Christian perseverance. In the gospel pericope according to Evangelist Luke, Jesus speaks of scandals, forgiveness, and faith. He warns against becoming a stumbling block, especially to those who are still growing in faith.
Yet the high point of His teaching is the challenge of repeated forgiveness: “If your brother sins against you seven times in a day… you must forgive him.” This is indeed forgiveness beyond measure (cf. Luke 17:1–6). The disciples do not respond by protesting the difficulty of forgiveness. Instead, they pray:
“Lord, increase our faith!” This is the posture of a true disciple: acknowledging that love requires grace beyond our natural strength. Jesus responds with an image of the mustard seed, tiny, almost insignificant yet capable of commanding the impossible. This is the mystery of grace: Faith need not be enormous; it only needs to be living.
Meanwhile, our first reading reminds us that the Spirit of the Lord fills the world and searches our hearts (cf. Wisdom 1:1–7). God is not distant. Nothing is hidden. The call to forgiveness and humility is not lived alone we are accompanied from within.
However, in the the same spirit of today's liturgy we celebrate St. Leo the Great who served the Church during turbulent times where heresies, invasions and division were order of the day. Yet he held firm to the truth that: What we believe shapes how we live. In his famous teaching on the Incarnation, he proclaimed: “Christian, recognize your dignity.” This was not merely doctrinal precision but a pastoral medicine. By teaching the truth of Christ clearly, he cleared the confusion and strengthened the faithful to live with courage, unity, and charity. The Church honours him as Doctor because he demonstrated that: Sound teaching safeguards the unity of the Church.
Beloved in Christ, as we reflect today on the theme: Forgiveness beyond measure and Faith that Perseveres. In our day-to-day living experience, do we forgive as readily as we desire to be forgiven? Is our faith living, or merely professed?
Finally, let us ask not for more faith, but for living faith.
+ Peace be with you.
© ARCHIVE 10112025
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