23rd Sunday Ordinary Time
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Cycle A
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A179: Today's gospel (Matt 18:15-20) seems to say not to 'turn the other cheek,' but to go after a wrong doer. Why this change in attitude by Jesus?
The point and thrust of today's gospel story is not really all that different from the story you are referring to (turning the cheek). Both talk about responding with love to inappropriate demands or unjust actions against us.
When you get home, open your bible to today's scripture passage and you will find an important clue left by St. Matthew. It is not an accident that Matthew placed today's gospel message between a story of Unlimited mercy and concern (i.e., the parable of the lost sheep, Matt 18:10-14), and a story of Unlimited forgiveness (i.e., the parable of the unforgiving servant, Matt 18:21-35). This setting is purposeful, because this teaching from Jesus reminds each one of us that any corrective gesture or actions we undertake must be done with Unlimited gentleness and love!
The wrongdoing that my brother commits is an action that threatens the mutual love that binds us together as a Christian community. When that love is threatened, then I am obliged to speak the truth out of love, as scripture commands me (see Eph 4:15). Jesus is challenging us to evaluate our lives and our relationships in terms of preserving our Christian community values - values based on love, values that he died for.
Reflection: Sometimes people are unaware that they are acting against us in a manner that is not in keeping with the moral law, and this must be brought to their attention. What is my "track record" - do I lash out at someone who wrongs me, or do I first go to him or her privately and point out the fault? Do I really realize that everyone is my brother and sister, and I need to respond with love in all things?
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Playwrights for stage, screen and television can't people their dramas with saints only. Human beings are sinners as well as saints or a mixture of both. Trouble is the professional theater is a business as well as an art; so when show business is slow, producers are always tempted to "give the public what it wants": to glamorize sin. This, of course, is irresponsible. It is cashing in on the weaknesses of one's neighbor.
Some theatrical people go along with such trends, but the really great actors and actresses will usually refuse. They have too much respect for their art to allow it to become an agent of human corruption. Take, for instance, one of America's theatrical "greats," our original "Peter Pan" - Maude Adams (1872-1953). Here is what she said: "If a play and the acting call out unhealthy emotions and lead us to believe they are normal or customary, the theater serves no good purpose."
Aristotle, the famous philosopher of ancient Greece, who wrote a whole book on the aims of drama, would have agreed. So does today's second reading: "...Love never does any wrong to the neighbor". (Romans, 13:10)
-Father Robert F. McNamara
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Q335: When the Gospel today mentions pointing out the faults of another (Mt 18:15-20), doesn’t it give license to people to become critics and nosey busybodies?
I would like to refer to the First Reading (Ezek 33:7-9) as background. Yahweh has appointed Ezekiel the prophet as “watchman” over Israel. This image points to someone who is responsible for activating the “early warning system.” From his vantage point he can see an approaching enemy before anyone else is aware of the danger, and sound the alarm. Once he sounds that alarm, however, it is up to the residents of the city to decide whether to ignore the alarm, or to take action to ensure their safety.
The key is to remember that the prophet only sounds the alarm when a person or a nation are in mortal danger of losing their souls because of improper or sinful behavior. Only then does the prophet speak his cautionary words, reminding them of the real consequences of their actions (or inactions).
This is the same kind of situation that Jesus was addressing in the gospel. He tells his disciples (that’s you and me) that if the actions of another are causing dangerous harm to the faith life of a person (and therefore the community as well), it needs to be addressed right now in order to safeguard the journey of all to holiness. This must be done properly, however, which means speaking the truth with love (Second Reading) and giving the person(s) a chance to become aware of the consequences of their actions, to apologize, to repent, and to change their behavior. There is a big difference between a righteous busybody and one who has a loving concern for the eternal life of another brother or sister.
Know Your Catechism! It was also through Ezekiel that God told us He wills not the death of a sinner, but that he change his ways and live (Ez 18:23; cf. 1 Tim 2:4). Witnessing to the truth is an act of justice (CCC #2472). When reconciliation to the Church is needed because of sinfulness, we have recourse to the Sacrament of Confession (CCC #1444, 553). Love and forgiveness go hand in hand for a true disciple (CCC #2845).
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Q492: The gospel tells us (Matthew 18:15) to set your brother straight when he sins against you. Why isn’t it better just to keep quiet and “absorb” the wrong?
St. Augustine wrote a homily on 1 John 4 (see http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/170207.htm), in which he puts a choice before you: would you rather be treated very affectionately by someone, or would you rather be severely punished by your father? Of course, I propose that to you as a “trick question” because there is one element missing you have not been told about: which of the two actions is done out of true charity? Augustine says if the father is offering you correction so that you will not repeat a serious and deadly mistake, it is done out of deep love for you. But the other action, being “treated very affectionately” – suppose that caress was coming from a twisted pedophile? All of a sudden, the right choice for you to make becomes very clear!
Your private action in informing your brother about an injury or distress that he has caused you stems partly from a good sense of justice. We want things put right, in proper order. But there is a deeper element at work, and that is concern for your brother’s soul: if he does not make amends and change his behavior, then his eternal life could be at stake. That situation almost demands that you offer private fraternal correction to your brother.
St. Paul said it best (2nd reading: Romans 13:8-10): our only obligation is to love. First, we love our self-sacrificing Creator God; and then we love every other human being unconditionally, just like Jesus taught us. If charity is at the root of all of our actions, we know that our actions conform to the will of God.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! It is no accident that Jesus called unconditional love for God and for man the two greatest commandments, and the basis for all good human actions (CCC #2055). So before “correcting” someone, do a quick internal check: is charity at the root of the words you plan to speak? Remember: the Eucharist strengthens our charity, and this living charity wipes away venial sins (CCC #1394).
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