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.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome John 2: 13-22
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome and the “mother of all churches of the city and of the world.” This celebration is not so much about bricks and marble, but about what the Lateran represents: the unity of the whole Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter. The Basilica is a visible sign of the living Church, built not only of stone, but of people who, through baptism, become God’s dwelling place.
In the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the Temple, driving out the merchants and money changers. His actions were not simply about keeping order in a holy place. Rather, He was pointing to a deeper truth: the true temple of God is not a building, but His own Body. “Destroy this temple,” He said, “and in three days I will raise it up.” The disciples later understood that He was speaking of His Resurrection. In Christ, God’s presence is no longer confined to a single sanctuary but is revealed fully in Him. And through baptism, each of us becomes part of this living temple.
Saint Paul reminds us that “you are God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9). The Church is the spiritual house built of “living stones,” and Christ Himself is the cornerstone. This means that every Christian is called to be a true dwelling place of God. But it also carries a challenge: to be consistent in living out the faith we profess. Coherence between faith and daily life is not easy; it requires constant openness to the Holy Spirit. As Pope Francis often reminds us, a Christian is recognised not so much by words, but by actions, by the way he or she lives.
The Lateran Basilica stands as a reminder of the visible, institutional Church, but it also points us to the deeper reality: that the Church’s mission is to witness to faith through love. Structures, ministries, and pastoral programmes exist for one purpose: to bring people to Christ and to make His love visible in the world. Faith and love must always go together. Love is the expression of faith, and faith gives foundation and meaning to love.
Today’s feast also calls us to unity and communion. Just as the Lateran Basilica unites all Christians around the Bishop of Rome, so too are we called to be builders of unity in a divided world. The Church is meant to be a sign of reconciliation, a foretaste of the new humanity brought by Christ—a family of peoples reconciled in fraternity and solidarity. In our time, when indifference and enmity often separate communities, the Church must continue to build bridges of dialogue, understanding, and peace.
Let us ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the dwelling place of God’s Word, to help us be living temples of His love. May our lives radiate Christ’s presence, so that the Church, like the Lateran Basilica, may truly be a house of prayer for all peoples and a sign of hope for the world.
Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time Luke 16: 9-15 Unjust Money
Brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on how we use the material things of this world, especially money. Jesus is not condemning possessions in themselves; He is asking us to see them in their proper place.
First, money is a means, not a goal. It comes and goes, and its real value lies in how it is shared. The danger comes when we make money the centre of our lives—when we invent needs, chase after what we don’t really need, and forget the things that truly matter. Saint Ambrose once said: “The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever.” Our wealth is not in what we keep, but in what we give away.
Second, Jesus calls us to loyalty. “Whoever is faithful in little is faithful also in much.” Loyalty is not just a feeling; it is a daily choice. God entrusts us with little tasks and small responsibilities, and how we handle them shows if we are ready for greater things. Even in earthly matters, a person is only promoted after proving trustworthy in small duties. So too in eternal life: we will inherit what is truly ours only if we are faithful stewards of what has been lent to us here.
Third, we must decide who our Master is. Jesus is clear: “You cannot serve both God and money.” God does not want part-time disciples. To serve Him is to give Him our whole heart. Divided service is no service at all.
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees mocked Jesus because they linked wealth with virtue. They arrogantly elevated themselves in front of others, but before God, their arrogance was detestable. Jesus teaches us that the kingdom belongs not to the self-righteous, but to those who prioritise God above everything.
So let us ask: Do we use money as a tool for love, or has it become our master? May we learn to be faithful in small things, generous in sharing, and wholehearted in serving God—our only true treasure.
全属于祢 
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