Stumbling is never a problem for Jesus when he meets people on the way. It is assumed that by our very nature we will stumble as we seek God's will for our lives and days. That is why touch places, stones if you will, are important. So as we read the Daily Office just now, running parallel to the Gospel is Deuteronomy with reciting the commandments just concluded.
Having reviewed the Ten Commandments in detail, the author of Deuteronomy says, "put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Deuteronomy 11:18-19.
They are to be touch places which remind us of our relationship to God who guides and provides. Who allows that we will occasionally stumble, act wrongly. The core lesson is to just return to God, to a lively relationship of love and eternal care. The central symbol of synagogue and home, the tablets of the Ten commandments, the mezuzah on the door post are such touch places.
Jesus' message is essentially the same except he expects maturation of this relationship such that our hearts, minds and actions of care and love grow in capacity. Yes, we will stumble as we seek the Pearl of great value, God reign. So will others. Knowing this, Jesus reminds his followers that the core sign of love is forgiveness.
"Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive." Luke 17:3-4
The rhythm is simple. Keep to God's word as your touch place in life. If one sins, name it. When repentance, recognition and apology, follow, forgive and be willing to do so many times. As we hear this we know that we are also the ones who fail and seek this forgiveness.
The disciples of Jesus then say, "Increase our faith." In other words, empower us for this steady work. The only answer they get is a story of the slave under the care of a master who keeps faithful not for gratitude but because the slave knows this is what is expected. This for Jesus is faith, keeping at the will of God as best we understand it. It will allow one to do the seemingly impossible, like picturing a tree to move by your will wrapped in God's will, and off it goes.
The work of forgiveness is not simple and yet it is. At times it seems impossible. As we practice this art of care we learn many things. We learn to see and name things gone wrong. Often we must learn other's actions have little to do with us even when we are named as the cause. "You made me do..." is seldom true. "I did in reaction to..." is closer. "I regret..." is often a good beginning and a sign of repentance.
When you forgive it is not the same as forgetting. Sometimes we need to remember the hurtful thing as a gentle warning. Just keep it gentle not a grudge. Allow the memory to fade as you can. Otherwise you are hampered in your own growth.
Forgiveness does clear a space in the heart of you for future good and for God. Nurse this place and you will grow in capacity. You will lighten.
There is however in this Gospel a stern warning for when we cause sin in another.
"Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble." Luke 17:1-2
When we cause someone grief, when we knowingly or not lead someone else into sin or lost sight of God's good, there is a penalty. I suppose this is because we injure another's approach to God.
There is a millstone monument in the church yard of St Joseph's Church in Mendham, NJ for the victims of childhood sexual molestation. It is a solemn reminder that a priest there destroyed or deeply injured the faith walk of a number of youth and by ripple effect, the faith of others. It is also, to any who can reflect, a reminder all such childhood molestation brought on by any adult is a heavy burden injuring young life, "little ones." This is a serious cultural issue everywhere.
But there are other ways to injure "little ones," those new to life or to faith. Teaching that any action or thought or some part of our God-made self is incapable of forgiveness is one. Bullying a person spiritually, pressing them into some shape you deem right with out listening for their deeper walk is another.
We do best to carry one another with the lightness of love and forgiveness. When we cannot for some reason, we do best to step back and take a time out, a respite where we muster insight, wisdom and often our forgiving self. We touch a core place of light and love and begin again.
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