Jesus said to his disciples: 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." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "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." (Lk 17:1-6)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111124.cfm
Context is everything. Faith the size of a mustard seed is about forgiveness. Saint Martin of Tours (316-397) is one of the “soldier saints.” He became a Christian, left soldiering behind and picked up the banner of Christ. At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, peace came that ended the First World War in 1918. Today’s photo is of my great uncle Charlie Goetting (1888-1918) who died from a poisonous gas attack in the trenches of the First World War.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saint Martin of Tours, bishop, November 11, Armistice Day
