The God Standard

Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time &
St. Stephen of Hungry

Readings for Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Biographical Information about St. Stephen of Hungry

Reflection:

Our first reading from Ezekiel continues his vision, the first part of which we heard on Monday describing God in heaven. Today the prophet predicts God’s retribution on those who have fallen into idolatry. There is a strong image of the Lord here in that the “Thau” being referred to in the reading is literally an “X” but the letter in ancient Hebrew is drawn as a cross. (I wonder what that could mean).

The Gospel is important. For us as Catholics, who trace our papacy back to the Apostles, this is Jesus giving authority to his successors to provide guidance as to what is right and wrong. It is the foundation of the Magisterium of the Church. Without giving this authority and charge we would have no evidence that the will of God was entrusted to those first disciples who in turn, through Apostolic Succession, hand on that authority to our Pope Benedict XVI.

Jesus also gives some very practical advice echoed in Paul’s letters about how to settle disputes among members of the community of faith. It is advice that unfortunately has gotten lost in our litigious society. It presupposes a unified Church since its authority assumes that excommunication would be a deterrent and the law of the Church would be “The” standard of conduct. (“If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.”)

The lesson should ring loudly for us. How often in our dealings with others, even with people whom we know as members of our faith community, do we take offense and sulk or devolve into petty squabbles? Should we not rather do as the Lord proscribes? Should we not take our problem directly to the person we perceived has done us an injustice and make that argument directly with them? (At the risk of telling too much about my own experience in the Confessional, I seem to have heard that advice as part of my penance on more than one occasion.)

If we examine the fundamental underpinnings of the rule the Lord gives the disciples we can see it is based on mutual respect and love of one another. Ultimately that is where he always pushes us. How can we say we love someone if we harbor a perceived hurt or injustice? It is like getting a sliver of wood in our finger. If we leave it in there, it is going to fester and become even more painful than the initial removal process. If we don’t take action to remove it even after it becomes painful, it can become infected. If we don’t take drastic action once it is infected, it can cause serious and permanent damage and in extreme cases, even death.

No, it is better to take that perceived injury to the person who caused it. Even if they don’t accept responsibility, then you have at least unburdened yourself of any resentment that might have festered. You have acted in accordance with your faith and you are given the opportunity to forgive the unrepentant which is something very Christ-like. We get great things and tough lessons from the Lord today.

Pax