WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14, 2024
WEDNESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
ST MAXIMILIAN MARY KOLBE P.M. (MEMORIAL)
Ezekiel 9: 1-7; 10:18-22
Matthew18:15-20
ATTENDING TO OUR IMPERFECTION IN LIVING TOGETHER.
As long as we love in the world, we must live in relationship with others. Nobody lives in isolation. And so long as we hold relationships with one another, offences must be committed against ourselves. And offences have grades and forces which makes us repugnant to each other, sometimes it may create tensions, enmity, strive, quarrel, descension and even malice among us. But it must never degenerate into a perpetual obstacle that hunts our conscience. That is, it must have an end and must be stopped.
Jesus in today’s gospel offers us a godly procedure on how to stop and attend to strained relationships which must come at one point of our lives or another. The overall intentions of Jesus is to help us handle our imperfections, to enable us live as supports to one another and to keep the communitarian spirit of the Holy Trinity.
For indeed, it is in solidarity that we thrive and in togetherness that our lives becomes pleasing to God. For Jesus tells us “if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The procedure that Jesus offers demands great courage of those that are offended. It is the offended that actually bears the brunt and initiates reconciliation not even the offender. Here is seen a great responsibility which demands courage. A person that is most hurt begins the process, by initiating one on one discussion geared towards amicable living.
And if settled at this point, then it is good but if not, there is another step, which is taking a witness or wirnesses and meeting the offender. Again the offended takes the next step. With the witnesses of one or two persons, the case if still unresolved goes to the Christian community who adjudicates. It is at the failure of this step that an offender is considered an outcast, and prayed for and left to his or her fate as an unbeliever.
And it is at this point that one can exonerate oneself as having done all to gain reconciliation and the community’s faith that declares one an unbeliever holds sway even before the throne of God.
And the prophet Ezekiel declares in the first reading the lot and punishment that will befall anyone who makes himself or herself adamant to God’s decrees and professes himself or herself a sinner. “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”
And the punishment executed by the devouring angels will be painful and excruciating. We must be warned therefore to know our imperfections, to recognise that we need each other, to keep the ordinance of communitarian spirit and live in solidarity with one another.
More importantly, we must exercise the virtues of mercy, humility, peace, love and forgiveness in our interpersonal relationships.
There is no room for arrogance, unforgiveness, pride and enmity in God. We must build bridges of concord and oneness or togetherness in life.
God our Father, may we build your kingdom of peace, love and togetherness. Grant us peace in our hearts to accommodate others with their imperfections. Grant us humility of mind to serve them, live with all, bear their faults, by forgiving all those who offend us, being a light to all lacking in morality and being merciful as you are merciful. Make us instrument of your love to our world through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
