23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

My dear parishioners.

God Is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time !!! God Is Good!!!

This passage captures beautifully the true mission of a prophet. The primary task of these spokesmen for God is to lead the people along the path of life. Elijah and Elisha, for example, were likened to a fighting force leading the way for the people and protecting them from harm. The prophet Amos was likened to a plummet in the midst of the people, revealing just how far they were “off plumb” in their relationship with God. In this reading, Ezekiel is likened to a watchman who keeps vigil and is on the lookout for approaching danger.

The issue described in today’s Gospel passage has to do with how community members who have “sinned” against other members are to be handled. The community is depicted as a local congregation most likely of Matthew’s Church. The concern is with a real, verified offense, and not a mere accusation. For the Christians of Matthew’s Church, it was very important to deal with these matters within the congregation and by no means allow them to get, in any way, connected with the secular courts. Matthew has Jesus propose a threestep procedure for dealing with these offenses.

First step. The first step is for the offended party to go directly to the offender and lay the situation before him or her. This process is hinted at in Leviticus 19:17. Hopefully, the brother or sister will listen, own the offense, and allow reconciliation to take place immediately. This would be the hoped-for ideal. But what if it does not work?

Second step. If the first approach does not work, then the offended person is instructed to take one or two others and, once again, confront the offending community member. This second procedure is briefly described in Deuteronomy 19:15. The purpose of the additional community members is to function as witnesses who can bring testimony supporting the offended person. The added witnesses would give further weight to the offended party and, hopefully, help the offending member realize how serious this matter is. But again, this approach might not bring about the desired results.

The third and final step. The third and final step is to bring the matter to the entire local congregation. Now the situation is out in the public eye for all the members to see and, hopefully, encourage the offending member to accept responsibility for his or her actions. If, for whatever reason, this attempt does not work, then the member is to be excommunicated (treated like a gentile or tax collector). The power to bind and loose that originally was given only to Peter is now extended to the disciples at large, enabling them to have authority in this matter. All matters such as this must be accompanied by prayer. There is nothing that says the offending person can never be readmitted to the community after making sufficient amends.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius