Titus 1:1-9 / Luke 17:1-6
People who are given the responsibility of teaching and formation have an honorable as well as a tremendous task on their shoulders.
But the fundamental requirement is that they have to practice what they preach.
Whether as parents or teachers or priests, they form and teach others by their example, especially the young.
The young may not listen to words of wisdom but they will surely observe our actions and examples.
It is by our actions and examples that they form their character and habits in life.
So it is from us adults that the young learn how to forgive or how to be revengeful, how to love or how to hate, how to be generous or how to be selfish.
If the young learn from us either the good or the bad, then we as Christians can also be a source of inspiration or a source of scandal to others.
For that reason St. Paul urged Titus in the 1st reading to choose church leaders carefully.
It is by their life and example that they lead and teach.
In the gospel Jesus also told us to watch ourselves and to be aware of our actions and examples.
We also have to realize that our actions and examples flow from our hearts.
So if Jesus is not there then our actions and examples are leading others nowhere.