Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Wednesday in the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
[Deut 34:1-12 and Matt 18:15-20]"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector." [Matthew]
When I was a Dominican novice (1964-65), I remember well the instructions of the novice master on the subject of "fraternal correction." As in all groups, there would be some who found the instruction terrifying and others empowering (because they definitely knew somebody they wanted to correct!). Those who have taken part in or who have been the subject of an "intervention" that has been well-handled know in person the power of Jesus' words in today's gospel. These words have to be placed in the broader context of Matthew's gospel which emphasizes compassion for sinners. The last line does not mean "shunning" someone. It means simply to treat the offending person as if they need to be invited all over again. Jesus had particular compassion for Gentiles (the Canaanite woman) and tax collectors (Matthew and Zaccheus).
My own experience as a religious superior in several of our communities has been that fraternal correction is one of the most difficult and yet one of the most necessary actions. Someone who chronically causes disruption by comsumption habits (alchohol, medication, spending) or who enters into inappropriate relationships has to be confronted and corrected. The reaction of the offending person(s) can be very difficult. The advisability of witnesses, as Jesus points out, has to be weighed against confidentiality. The ultimate goal is conversion, not punishment. The community, too, must be reminded of the necessity of forgiveness. When Peter asks Jesus how often must he (Peter) forgive someone, Jesus, in effect, says, "Over and over again." This does not mean that disruption and destructive behavior should be tolerated. Firm and loving decisions must be made and matters of justice addressed. It all calls for wisdom, prudence, and compassion. Very few of us can be "experts" at this process. The fact that this appears at all in the Gospel According to Matthew tells us that no community is perfect and that we are all called to care for one another. AMEN
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