Today’s readings present to us various aspects of what living and sharing the Truth looks like. The Psalmist sings, “Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain” (Psalm 24:3-4). Saint Paul says, “God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents” (Titus 1:7-9). And Jesus teaches, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur…Be on your guard” (Luke 17:1, 3a). Our Lord adds, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him” (Luke 17:3b-4). Finally, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Luke 17:6).

Do not desire what is vain. Persevere in the truth. Be on guard against illusions. Be merciful. And always have faith. These are life-changing and life-saving principles to be sure! They are essential for the practice of our Catholic faith and for an authentic and sustained conversion in recovery. And they were beautifully witnessed in the life of Saint Martin of Tours (AD 336-397). He lived in the Truth, in imitation of Christ, and was blessed with heroic virtue as a convert, missionary, monk, and bishop. As a Roman soldier, he suffered persecution and imprisonment for refusing to serve the anti-Christian emperor Julian. He cared for the poor and sick and was devoted to prayer. He was exiled for resisting the Arian heresy, even becoming a hermit for a time. He served as a bishop for 26 years. And he is perhaps most well known for kissing a leper and curing him, and for dividing his cloak to clothe a naked beggar. Saint Martin later had a vision in which Christ revealed that He was the very beggar that the saint had selflessly served. Saint Martin of Tours answered the same call to which we have been summoned as Christ’s disciples and as Catholics in recovery—to love God and neighbor. Let us seek to emulate the great Saint’s imitation of Christ one day at a time, one choice at a time, one person at a time.

Saint Martin of Tours, pray for us!

Reflection Questions

• Consider what physical, emotional, and spiritual energy you wasted in the insanity of your addictions. How did such madness harm or devastate your relationships with God and others?
• As you grow in recovery, how are you learning to desire not what is vain, hold fast to the truth, be on guard against illusions and false teachings, be merciful to self and others, and be faithful?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Titus 1:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Gospel: Luke 17:1-6

Reflection by Pete S.