Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ezekiel 33:7-9
This selection is part of the Prophet’s call to holiness. Here the oracle of Ezekiel recalls God’s instructions; that he is to correct those who are identified to him as behaving in ways that will result in their death. Failure to warn them prophetically would constitute a rejection of God’s call and the punishment meted out for the sinner would also be applied to the prophet who failed (“…but I will hold you responsible for his death.”). In a covenant-like formula, God also says if the waning is unheeded no punishment shall fall to Ezekiel.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
This part of Psalm 95, commonly used as the invitatory psalm for the Liturgy of the Hours, is a song of thanks giving. In these strophes the incident at Meribah is remembered and God’s underserved mercy proclaimed. The community is rejoicing that the Lord is God and that he has brought us salvation in spite of our forbearer’s obstinacy. We are encouraged to listen to the Lord, even if what we are asked is difficult.
Reading II: Romans 13:8-10
St. Paul, in this reading from his Letter to the Romans, restates the second half of the great commandment saying that following Christ’s commandment to love one another automatically fulfills any other commandment of the law governing human interaction.
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20
“Passing from the duty of Christian disciples toward those who have strayed from their number, the discourse now turns to how they are to deal with one who sins and yet remains within the community. First there is to be private correction; if this is unsuccessful, further correction before two or three witnesses; if this fails, the matter is to be brought before the assembled community (the church), and if the sinner refuses to attend to the correction of the church, he is to be expelled. The church's judgment will be ratified in heaven, i.e., by God. The section ends with a saying about the favorable response of God to prayer, even to that of a very small number, for Jesus is in the midst of any gathering of his disciples, however small. “[3]
Reflection:
If this Gospel passage sounds familiar to the daily reader of these posts it is because we prayed and reflected upon it just a few weeks ago (see Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time). Something new has been added. A different part of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel precedes this injunction adding new emphasis. In addition, we have St. Paul chiming in with the passage from his Letter to the Romans.
Ezekiel reports to us how God commanded him to exhort those who were sinning to turn from that path. That is not unusual. We heard Jeremiah cry out that he wished he had never been born because he was called to correct the wicked and tell them of the doom that awaited them if they did not repent (“I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation.” Jeremiah 15:17). In a matter-of-fact way, Ezekiel understands the Lord to tell him that he is to be compelled to correct those on the wrong path. If he does not; if he shirks his duty to correct the sinful, he will be responsible for the fate they suffer.
This injunction is passed on to us in the Gospel from St. Matthew. Jesus tells his disciples (and us) that “…go and tell him his fault between you and him alone”. We are not told to go and tell some authority figure what has happened and expect that person to take action. No, we are the person to take action, to correct our brother or sister, but as St. Paul makes it absolutely clear, with love – not malice or anger.
And if we ignore the actions of one on a destructive path (self-destructive or destructive to others) and do nothing (it’s not our responsibility) we have doomed ourselves to accept the consequences that person will face.
We are members of the Body of the Living Christ. As such we are told repeatedly today that we are to take responsibility to lovingly bring our brothers and sisters to the Lord to help them understand what is right and good so they too can share the great reward. Does than mean we should pester someone who rejects us to death? No, if we have tried and they reject what we have shown them, we have done the right thing and God will reward us for that. It is a powerful lesson we are given today. –Christianity is hard!
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is “Fraternal Correction” by an UNKNOWN; Illustrator of Jerome Nadal's 'Evangelicae Historiae Imagines', 1593
[3] See NAB Footnote on Matthew 18:15-20
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ezekiel 33:7-9
This selection is part of the Prophet’s call to holiness. Here the oracle of Ezekiel recalls God’s instructions; that he is to correct those who are identified to him as behaving in ways that will result in their death. Failure to warn them prophetically would constitute a rejection of God’s call and the punishment meted out for the sinner would also be applied to the prophet who failed (“…but I will hold you responsible for his death.”). In a covenant-like formula, God also says if the waning is unheeded no punishment shall fall to Ezekiel.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
This part of Psalm 95, commonly used as the invitatory psalm for the Liturgy of the Hours, is a song of thanks giving. In these strophes the incident at Meribah is remembered and God’s underserved mercy proclaimed. The community is rejoicing that the Lord is God and that he has brought us salvation in spite of our forbearer’s obstinacy. We are encouraged to listen to the Lord, even if what we are asked is difficult.
Reading II: Romans 13:8-10
St. Paul, in this reading from his Letter to the Romans, restates the second half of the great commandment saying that following Christ’s commandment to love one another automatically fulfills any other commandment of the law governing human interaction.
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20
“Passing from the duty of Christian disciples toward those who have strayed from their number, the discourse now turns to how they are to deal with one who sins and yet remains within the community. First there is to be private correction; if this is unsuccessful, further correction before two or three witnesses; if this fails, the matter is to be brought before the assembled community (the church), and if the sinner refuses to attend to the correction of the church, he is to be expelled. The church's judgment will be ratified in heaven, i.e., by God. The section ends with a saying about the favorable response of God to prayer, even to that of a very small number, for Jesus is in the midst of any gathering of his disciples, however small. “[3]
Reflection:
If this Gospel passage sounds familiar to the daily reader of these posts it is because we prayed and reflected upon it just a few weeks ago (see Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time). Something new has been added. A different part of the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel precedes this injunction adding new emphasis. In addition, we have St. Paul chiming in with the passage from his Letter to the Romans.
Ezekiel reports to us how God commanded him to exhort those who were sinning to turn from that path. That is not unusual. We heard Jeremiah cry out that he wished he had never been born because he was called to correct the wicked and tell them of the doom that awaited them if they did not repent (“I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation.” Jeremiah 15:17). In a matter-of-fact way, Ezekiel understands the Lord to tell him that he is to be compelled to correct those on the wrong path. If he does not; if he shirks his duty to correct the sinful, he will be responsible for the fate they suffer.
This injunction is passed on to us in the Gospel from St. Matthew. Jesus tells his disciples (and us) that “…go and tell him his fault between you and him alone”. We are not told to go and tell some authority figure what has happened and expect that person to take action. No, we are the person to take action, to correct our brother or sister, but as St. Paul makes it absolutely clear, with love – not malice or anger.
And if we ignore the actions of one on a destructive path (self-destructive or destructive to others) and do nothing (it’s not our responsibility) we have doomed ourselves to accept the consequences that person will face.
We are members of the Body of the Living Christ. As such we are told repeatedly today that we are to take responsibility to lovingly bring our brothers and sisters to the Lord to help them understand what is right and good so they too can share the great reward. Does than mean we should pester someone who rejects us to death? No, if we have tried and they reject what we have shown them, we have done the right thing and God will reward us for that. It is a powerful lesson we are given today. –Christianity is hard!
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used is “Fraternal Correction” by an UNKNOWN; Illustrator of Jerome Nadal's 'Evangelicae Historiae Imagines', 1593
[3] See NAB Footnote on Matthew 18:15-20
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