Twenty Third Sunday of the Year: A: September 6, 2020

       DUTY OF CORRECTING THE ERRING

First Reading: Ezekiel 33: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 13: 8-10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 15-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel is asked by the Lord God to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He is given the duty to warn all the wicked people in the land. The instructions given to Ezekiel by the Lord God are applicable to all leaders who have a prophetic role to play. He or she has to speak out against every type of evil in the community and correct the erring members. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome and all of us about the preeminence of the law of love in every situation in life. He instructs us that the practice of Christian love fulfills all other commandments and prevents a person from doing wrong. 

Healing broken relationships

Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus gives us some important and relevant guidelines regarding the duty of a Christian and the Christian community in correcting an erring member of the community in a gentle and delicate manner. 

The instructions of Jesus in this context are straight forward. The offended person - not the offending one- should be the first one to seek reconciliation. The message is that members of the Christian community should straighten things out with one another privately and in a personal manner. The purpose of this open personal meeting is not to humiliate the offending person but to be reconciled with him/her. Hence this kind of action is to regain the  brother or the sister who had a break in relationship. It is to restore the broken relationship and not for denouncing or to put blame on the other. That is why Jesus told, "If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." 

In the second part of the Gospel Jesus assures us His divine and continued presence wherever two or three are gathered in His name. These words of Jesus should encourage us and strengthen us to be part of a caring, forgiving and praying community. 

"The fruits of charity are joy, peace and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction." - St. Augustine.

"Today we have to learn all over again that love for the sinner and love for the person who has been harmed are correctly balanced."- Pope Benedict XVI.