Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - 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 over your brother. If he does not listen, take one of 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]
AUGUST 11 ST. CLARE
I remember well the "conferences" that our novice master gave to us novices on the subject of "fraternal correction." We were all looking surreptitiously around the room wondering if we could have the courage, let alone the tact, to confront one another with behavior that we might object to. The various "rules" that seemed to govern such encounters seemed formidable, especially the one about a reasonable hope that the confrontation would do any good! Yet, the Gospel According to Matthew makes reconciliation of this kind an important part of Christian life. The more dramatic instances include confronting a person about addictive behavior - drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, spending. After ruin comes to a friend because we did not have the courage to question the addiction for fear of losing the friendship, we are left with the feeling, "If only I had said something.....!"
An "intervention" is a difficult experience. As a religious superior, I have had to participate in more than one. No one likes to be told that their behavior is destructive and is hurting not only other people but the offender as well. The law of love of God and neighbor includes "tough love" that aims at reconciliation and restoration. Jesus places this above worship in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:23-24)! Our refusal or inaction to find a compassionate, merciful and firm effort to confront destructive behavior can put us in the position of failing to show the very same mercy to others that we would expect and receive from God. (cf. Matt. 18:21-35)
If, when we pray the Lord's Prayer, we mean it when we ask God to forgive us to the extent that we forgive others, then the task of reconciliation becomes all the more urgent. Love of God and neighbor can mean "tough love!" None of us will be complete experts at it but we are still called to try. AMEN