HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (3)

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

THEME: COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY.

BY: Rev Fr Stephen ‘Dayo Osinkoya.

Ezekiel 33:7-9;
Psalm 95
Romans 13:8-10;
Matthew 18:15-20

Our liturgy today brings to fore the theme of communal relationship and responsibility. As humans we are called to communal life, of which exclusive independence is unrealistic and where it is attempted or practiced, it often leaves the mental health with adverse effects.

Individualism today threatens the reality of communal relationship. The temptation for many is to stay away from coming together, to say that I can find God in my room, or when I am going for a walk and many are tempted to even say who needs to go to church to love God? But we have to bear in mind that the Church is the great vehicle of God’s grace, that is Christ himself, who strengths the resolve of those who become an active part of the Church and of Christ. Being part of the Church will change our lives, when we co-operate with the grace we discover there; the grace of Christ.

Meanwhile, this coming together with others – this communal relationship is one that is laden with responsibility towards one another. Hence, in the first reading of today, from the book of Ezekiel, we are told to correct our erring brethren. Not correcting our erring brethren would constitute punishment on our part. But in correcting the wrong of others and reconciling with those who have wronged us what approach is expected to bring about the desired result?

In the second reading from St. Paul we are told to love our neighbour as ourselves and do no evil to our neighbours. The approach of LOVE is what is expected of us when dealing with our erring brethren. And Jesus in the gospel highlighted for us steps to take which would show that we actually have the love of our neighbour who has wronged us at heart.

Step 1: Deal with the individual one-on-one.
Jesus suggests a private chat as the first step: “go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves” (Mt 18:15). This step presupposes a considered response to what we perceive to be wrong. It is not a reaction of flaring up in anger, but a cool dialogue. The run-up to this step could be painstaking, and often demands deep courage. I find this step very challenging in my own life. It is much easier to make generalised statements about wrongs that I see in the community, or to rise up as a cobra when my own little haven is disturbed. On the contrary, Jesus is inviting me to be fully human – to use my gift of rationality and my ability to empathise with the other. “If he listens to you, you have won back your brother” (v.16). My experience is that most often this step really works. If this step does not work, then I can go on to the next step.

Step 2: Involve close associates.
“If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you…” (Mt 18:16). Jesus here is quoting the Torah (Deut 19:15-16). But this step is necessary to clarify your own perception of the wrong: was it just an illusion; was it my own prejudice; or was I acting on a personal vendetta? The two others will help you clarify your own position, and if your position is sound and Christian, then they stand behind you to allure the wrong doer to return to the fold. It is easier to find the lost sheep when three shepherds search together than if one shepherd did it alone. In case this does not work, then we need a better strategy.
Step 3: Bring the issue before the community.
This is the last resort. Here the procedure becomes public and judicial. Interestingly, Matthew talks about bringing the person before the community (or the church – ecclesia) rather than the leaders. At this point, if the individual chooses not to follow the direction of the community, then s/he can be considered not being part of the community anymore. Jesus’ words to Peter in Mt 16:18, is here addressed to the whole community. The community is given the authority: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 18:18).

The steps that Jesus is laying out here in dealing with a wrongdoer are not merely part of a legal procedure. They are invitation to us to prepare ourselves internally to deal in a humane manner with the person whom we perceive to be on the wrong. It is a personal inner process of growth towards wisdom, love and freedom.

In the Responsorial Psalm we are commanded to hear the voice of God and not harden our hearts and that we should not be like the Israelites in Massah and Meribah who hardened their hearts to the instruction of the Lord God. In the second reading we are reminded to follow the commandment of love. Therefore in correcting our erring brethren we have to do it out of love.

So Jesus encourages us today is to gather together, to come in his name and offer our prayers and worship, for when we do he is there in our midst, to restore our hope and allow us to press forward towards heaven.

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