5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves.

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.3So watch yourselves.

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Instructions for Servants Part 55: According to Dr. Luke

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves.

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves. Do I understand and accept that discouragement will come?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves. Am I ready to work through whatever challenges come, with Jesus’ help?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves. Am I a source of discouragement for others sometimes?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves. Do I want to be an encouragement to others around me?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves. What do I need to change to be encouragement to others?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.3So watch yourselves. Am I so sensitive to discouraging others that I would prefer to die a terrible death?

Luke 17: 1Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves.

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me bring love.Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.Where there is discord, let me bring union.Where there is error, let me bring truth.Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.Where there is despair, let me bring hope.Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Master, let me not seek as muchto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love,for it is in giving that one receives,it is in self-forgetting that one finds,it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

O Master, let me not seek as muchto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love,for it is in giving that one receives,it is in self-forgetting that one finds,it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Do others in our faith community trust me enough for me to do that?

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Do I trust others enough to accept a rebuke when it’s appropriate?

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” What do I need to do to build that kind of trust?

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Am I that quick to forgive others?

“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Do I ask for forgiveness when I need to?

From Coming Clean, by Seth Haines Unforgiveness is the ultimate act of the human will. It is a private declaration that we know better than Christ, that we’d sooner our enemies receive their just deserts than find reconciliation. Yet without forgiveness, we do not receive forgiveness (Mark 16:14-15, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:37, Matthew 18). Without forgiveness, we compromise our unity with the Spirit. And without unity, where is the peace? Without peace, coping mechanisms make much more sense.

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”