HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION!

BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)

Ezek 33: 7 – 9, Rom 13: 8 – 10, Matt 18: 15 – 20.

*A. PREAMBLE*
Christianity is basically a communitarian religion because Christ’s major teaching centres on love of neighbour. The African traditional religious setting is also very communalistic and can be said to be spiritually superior to the Western model of individualism which came as a result of civilization and humanism.
It is quite unfortunate today, that with the coming of civilization, while the 1st world Countries are now busy seeking for a coalition of states in search of a stronger economy, many African and 3rd world Countries are busy disintegrating and seeking for autonomy from the Central government. It is all as a result of the selfishness of the leaders.

Our highest Christian obligation is to be our brother’s keeper and to be the light of the world, Matt 5: 13 – 16. In today’s 1st reading, we are told to be the watchmen of the world.

*B. THE POWER OF LOVE*
Love remains the greatest power of Christianity and the greatest teaching of Christ. It empowers us both as individuals and as a group. People think that knowledge is power but the fact remains that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Love can be false or real. It is false when it is *parasitic* (selfish), *sychophantic* (deceptive) or *petty* (non corrective). It is real when it is *mutual* (selfless), *corrective and sacrificial*. Immanuel Kant says that the only thing that can be used as the litmus test of real love is a good will.

We must therefore avoid the following offences against our neighbour since they are anti love offences; *(i) Adultery* is one of the greatest offences against one’s neighbour (fornication is also future adultery because it prepares the ground for it). *(ii) Murder* is the worst because it destroys the life of your neighbour. *(iii) Stealing* is also very offensive because it frustrates one’s neighbour. *(iv) Another is coveting* because it opens the door of greed and injustice.

*C. THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIP*
Fellowship has the power of harnessing resources together between persons. There are 3 dimensions of fellowship;
*(i) SOCIAL FELLOWSHIP* – fellowship in sharing our time and resources. Today’s 2nd reading warns us not to be indebted to people except in love /sharing.
*(ii) PSYCHOLOGICAL FELLOWSHIP* – fellowship in correcting people’s behaviour. The 1st reading warns us about the importance of fraternal correction. Edmund Burke says that ‘the only reason for the triumph of evil is that good people keep quiet and say nothing and do nothing’.
*(iii) SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP* – fellowship in praying. The gospel speaks about the importance of spiritual union and the need for conflict resolution in order not to destroy this fellowship.

*D. NEED FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION*
‘To err’, they say, ‘is human and to forgive is divine’. To reconcile is the business of children of God. According to Fr Emma Onuh, ‘If offence is a necessary ingredient in human society, forgiveness must be the only workable solution’. Jesus’ option is called ‘The Healthy approach method’ – it is a method of dialogue unlike ‘The Avoidance – withdrawal and gossip method’ that encourages criticizing people at their back and fermenting a lot of animosity and division.

Christ recommends 3 stages in conflict resolution;
*(i) PRIVATE* – Dialoguing privately with the offender.
*(ii) SEMI PRIVATE* – Invitation of the 3rd party to help facilitate dialogue.
*(iii) ECCLESIAL* – This is the stage of judgment. The verdict of the Church is final and the consequence of disobedience at this stage is excommunication. Jesus says twice, ‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven… ‘. He says again, ‘I tell you solemnly, if 2 or 3 agree to ask anything it shall be done..’ just to underscore the power of fellowship.

RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A

The importance of conflict resolution is to make community prayer effective. Quarrels and division destroy the spiritual fibre of parishes and Church organizations. According to Vima Dasan, ‘If personal prayer is the breath of faith, community prayer is the lungs of the Church’. That is why he gave the Church the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Cor 5: 18, Jn 20: 21.

*E. CONCLUSION*
Since conflict is inevitable in human relationship, acquiring the requisite skills in conflict resolution is necessary. I summarize this as follows;
*(i) Having the ability to say sorry and hear sorry.*
*(ii) Having a childlike quality of letting go past provocations, Matt 18: 2.*
*(iii) Having the obligation to correct and be corrected.* The Christian definition of a wicked man is one who receives forgiveness from God but cannot extend same to his /her neighbour, Matt 18: 23.
The fruits of self indulgence, as St Paul discusses them in Gal 5: 19 can be divided into 3 stages;
(i) Natural Stage; antagonism and rivalry
(ii) Emotional Stage; jealousy, bad temper and quarrels
(iii) Destructive stage; disagreement, factions and malice.
There are 3 major causes of quarrel; disagreement, jealousy and bad correction.
*Charity must lurk behind every fraternal correction otherwise it is a bad correction.
The fruits of holiness are; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, trustfulness and self control. We must always pray for these virtues.

A family that prays together stays together. If you cannot agree you cannot pray together. This is why the devil strikes many families and prayer groups as soon as he plants quarrel within them. Thomas Pazayampalil puts it succinctly clear when he said that ‘Marriage is a union of 2 good forgivers’. *The power of every fellowship flows from forgiveness and reconciliation.* Happy Sunday dear friends!

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