Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Luke 17:1-6

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about three powerful realities for Christian life: scandal, forgiveness, and faith.

First, the LORD warns against being a cause of scandal. To lead another into sin is to twist the sign-posts of life and send a soul down the wrong path. Like the story of the old man who once turned a signpost as a prank and later feared he had misled travellers forever, our choices and examples have lasting effects.

Second, Jesus insists on boundless forgiveness. The rabbis said that forgiving three times made a man perfect, but Jesus stretches this to a calculation that our mercy must mirror God’s limitless mercy. Forgiveness is not optional for a disciple; it is the very rhythm of Christian life. To forgive is to reflect the love we ourselves have received.

Pope St Leo the Great, whose memory we celebrate today, defended the true faith with clarity and courage, ensuring that the faithful were not misled. His life reminds us that our witness—whether in word, teaching, or daily example—must always point others toward Christ. Today, let us pray for Pope Leo XIV as he celebrates his patron’s day that the Holy Spirit may guide him in leading the Church through the unrelenting practice of reconciliation. True greatness, as St. Leo taught, lies in reflecting the mercy we ourselves have received.

Finally, Jesus emphasises the power of faith. Even faith the size of a mustard seed can uproot those deep-rooted sinful inclinations from our lives; it is trust in God’s power working through us. Faith does not mean denying difficulties but facing them with God. If we approach life saying, “It cannot be done,” nothing will happen. But if we say, “It must be done—with God’s help,” then the impossible becomes possible..

Today, Jesus calls us to be people who do not mislead but guide, who forgive without limit, and who live with faith that transforms impossibility into hope.

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Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025