St Martin of Tours
Readings:
Titus 1: 1-9
Luke 17: 1-6
Reflection:
In light of all the conversations about synodality and leadership in the Church the first reading offers a prescription for good leaders. Titus is given a challenge by Paul who clearly trusts that he is the right person for the task of building stable communities in Crete which appears to have a reputation for wildness! This list of qualities outlined by Paul helps us to focus on the qualities required for leadership rather than titles, gender or status. Leaders were to be living authentically, able to share wisdom by their way of living and they are to be persons of integrity. These are still good credentials with which to challenge Christian and civil leaders today.
The Gospel holds the key to growing as Christian and indeed human communities-forgiveness. I am sure I am not alone in recognising how challenging it is to offer genuine forgiveness when one is hurting. We are often amazed when we see public expressions of this virtue after a traumatic event. I recall reading a book called ‘The Sunflower’ by Simon Wiesenthal where he recalls being asked to sit with a remorseful, dying Nazi soldier seeking forgiveness from a Jewish person for his part in the atrocities of the holocaust, which continue to haunt him. Simon, faced with a choice between compassion and justice, silence and truth, said nothing. Years later he wondered if he had done the right thing and leaves us with the question: what would you have done in his place? A question to ponder.
Perhaps the prayer the Apostles said ‘Increase our faith’ is the grace we need in the moment – we need to trust that God is the One who forgives in and through us and only in God’s grace are we able to offer forgiveness from the heart. We also know that when we do offer forgiveness, we are set free. However, I do believe it is a process and we also need self-compassion on the journey to freedom.
Marin of Tours, whose feast we celebrate today, had such a reputation for seeking mercy for prisoners that when the authorities heard he was visiting they refused to see him because they knew he would request mercy for someone and they would be unable to refuse. Pope Francis also calls mercy a key quality of our Christian way of life. Is this a call I hear?
Sr. Brigid Murphy CP, Sisters of the Cross & Passion, Melbourne