TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR "A"

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR   I

“If your brother does something wrong” (Mt. 18,15)

Please note, the word used is “brother” and not “fellow-Christian”. The word “brother” occurs more than 150 times in the New Testament. The word “Christian” is used only three times; twice by non-Christians and once by Peter in connection with persecution. The designation “Christian” was a nick-name given by pagans with overtones of contempt. So the oft repeated name “brother” points to a fundamental relationship in the Church.  All other relationships such as those to priest, bishop, pope or superior are subordinate to and a service to this fundamental relationship of brotherhood.

“If your brother sins against you.” Correcting a fellow-Christian is quite a delicate matter. Jesus expects us to take the initiative to win back an erring brother. If we ourselves have been offended, we are expected not to put and sulk or wait for an apology or for the offender to prove that he/she is worthy of our love. Rather, we are expected to take the first step in the work of reconciliation. After all, relationships are not only about the past but also about the future. Who among us has not been badly bruised by authority figures ?   And, if the truth be told, each of us has caused more than a few cuts and wounds in other people.  Some of them were more lasting than we would like to think.  There are some people who have the knack of surrounding their reprimand with such good humour that the guilty party can hardly take exception to it.  Bishop Fulton Sheen once said, “While it is very possible to win the argument, you may by your angry style lose the war.”  We would do well to bring others up short with the same gentleness that we would hope that they and God himself would use on our sometimes dishonourable selves. Putting others on the carpet then should be but a portion of the punishment. The dressing down should be equal shares of forgiveness and the offer to help the other to start afresh.

Jesus advises that correction should follow a graded pattern. The first act should take place alone with the erring brother, then in the presence of a few chosen witnesses, and only after that before the whole community.  But alas, how often do we not invert the process. We begin by complaining to the whole neighbourhood and the last to hear of our complaint is precisely the erring one.  This step by step mode of correction, suggested by Jesus, diverts the process of any suggestion of passion, anger or vindictiveness.

Now listen again to vs. 15 of Matthew’s gospel: “If the erring brother will not listen to the whole community, then treat him like a gentile or a tax-collector.”  Sounds like Jesus was dealing a nasty backhander to pagans and tax men.  (If he were in Calcutta, he would have included taximen !)  Sounds like he was putting them down and stamping on them once and for all. Was that it ?  You’re in for a surprise.  May I remind you that the writer of this gospel was Matthew, himself a tax-collector, and as such was called by Jesus to sign on with him. If the Christ was meant to turn thumbs down on tax people, he would hardly have invited Matthew to join his company.   In addition, be it noted, the Teacher spent much time in gentile country  -  Tyre and Sidon, Caesarea Philipi, the Decapolis, etc.. He treated these non-Jews with an abundance of tender, loving care.  The Nazarene looked upon people and saw not hopeless cases but cases called to salvation. William Barclay sums up the case nicely: “He never set limits to human forgiveness.”

Do you remember that story ?  You see, the Second coming of Christ had taken place, and the world was history. The people who were saved were having the mother of all parties in heaven. As Peter was waltzing with Mary Magdalene he noticed something amiss.  The only one missing was Jesus.  Peter went looking for him at the entrance of the Pearly Gates.  “Master, what are you doing here. Won’t you come in and join the party ? The guys and gals are waiting for you.” And Jesus tersely replied:  “And I am waiting for Judas.” 

PRAYER (Cecil Kerr):  Lord Jesus Christ, you are the way of peace. Come into the brokenness of our lives and our land with your healing love.  Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow to one another in real forgiveness.  By the fire of your Holy Spirit, melt our hard hearts and consume the pride and prejudice which separate us.  Fill us, O Lord, with your perfect love which casts out fear and bind us together in that unity which you share with the Father and the Holy Spirit.