Titus 1:1-9 / Luke 17:1-6
Every occupation has its set of requirements and expectations. We can also call that a job description.
The more demanding a job is, the higher are the requirements and expectations, as well as the greater the responsibilities.
That can be seen in professions like doctors, teachers, police officers and those in leadership positions that are influential and exercise authority.
In the 1st reading, when St. Paul told Titus to appoint leaders in every town, he stated what was required: irreproachable character, not arrogant or hot-tempered, not a drunkard or violent, not out to make money, etc.
We may wonder how successful Titus was in being able to find such leaders with those kind of qualities.
But in the gospel, Jesus summed it all up like this: he should not be an obstacle to others or lead others astray. It was simple but it was enough.
We may not be chosen to be in leadership positions or that we are not highly influential or have much authority to exercise,
Nonetheless, the qualities that St. Paul spoke about in the 1st reading and what Jesus said about being an obstacle and leading others astray are certainly something for us to think about.
Being a Christian means that we are answering to a higher calling in life, and it is the call to holiness.
Like the apostles in the gospel, we can only ask Jesus to increase our faith to live out the life of holiness.
We already have the faith. We only need to increase and strengthen that faith by living a just and virtuous life that is pleasing to God.