23rd Sunday of Year A

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

Let’s help each other stay on the righteous path.

My brothers and sisters, what do we do when we see a brother and sister commit a wrongful act? Do we keep quiet, do we speak to the person, or do we make it public? What if the wrongful act has hurt us immensely? Do we act out of our hurt? Do we seek revenge? Do we seek to shame the other person? Without exception, all of us have witnessed wrongful acts; all of us have been hurt. How did I act? More importantly, what is the loving and right way to react? This week, the Scripture invites us to reflect.

Christianity has always been a communal faith. In the early Christian community, we read how “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:42-23) In other words, as a community, Christians can do wonders! Indeed, we do not journey through faith alone. We need our community, our brothers and sisters in faith, to keep us faithful. Indeed, it is our duty to help each other stays faithful. In times of our weakness, we need a brother or sister to correct us, to lovingly point out our errors. And conversely, when a brother or sister is experiencing a moment of weakness, we are in turn called to lovingly correct them. This is the essence of a Christian community. This is what it means to be collectively called the body of Christ. Counsel is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-11). It is also a duty of a Christian. Hence, in the First Reading this week, God says to us, “If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.” (verse 8)

However, our counsel – even when it is delivered purely out of love – is not always graciously accepted. As a result, we are sometimes hesitant to provide counsel – for fear of a negative reaction. In the Gospel, Jesus instructs us to be persistent and patient, giving us a three-step process to approach a brother or sister with sensitivity:

1. First, we need to approach the person alone, with non-judgmental and loving words: “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.” (verse 15) We do this to make it clear that our objective is not to embarrass the person, but simply to point out their erroneous ways.
2. If our private counsel is not constructively received, we should then seek the help of one or two brothers and sisters who are respected and well-reputed in the community: “But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (verse 16) We do this to show the other person that it not just us who feel that way. Having just one or two to support us helps limit the possibility of the matter becoming public. In this way, we help maintain the dignity of the other person.
3. And only if all else fails, then as a last resort, we involve the wider community: “If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (verse 17) Even then, Jesus instructs us to give the person every chance to correct. Jesus made it very clear that ostracising the person is the very very last resort.

So, my dear friends, let us reflect. Do I take my duty to be my brother’s or sister’s keeper seriously? Do I hesitate to counsel a brother or sister? And when I do so, do I do it with love and patience? Or do I do so out of my hurt and with a vengeful heart? Do I seek to ostracise the other person on the first instance, rather than as a last resort? Do I gossip about the other person rather than helping to counsel the person? As we ponder over these questions, let us remember that as a Christian, love must always be our motivation and our end goal. To act in righteousness is an act of love. To keep a brother and sister on the path of righteousness is also an act of love. As St Paul wrote to the Romans in the Second Reading: “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (verse 8)

To conclude this week’s reflection, let us ponder upon these words of St Paul, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Col 3:12-14)

Let us proceed in love. Amen.