Sunday: 23 RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Date: September 5, 1999 Year: A The readings: [Ez. 33:7-9; Rom. 13:8-10; Mt. 18:15-20] The message: I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER. Prepared by: CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY Total words: 1420 |
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The same attitude of indifference and acceptance of sinful ways can be said about other sins that have gradually become acceptable within society by most of the people. These are the sins of divorce, common-law relationships, homosexuality, lesbianism, same sex marriage, the removal of prayer from the schools, the teaching of evolution in the schools, etc... All of these are perversions of the truth that lead away from God's Holiness and holy ways.Good morning everyone, the members of the parish, their invited guests and any other visitors who may be present. With the closing of the Summer months and the children returning to school, life can now begin to stabilize for everyone.
Today's Word of God that was heard during the three readings of the Holy Bible tells us that the Lord God gave us the responsibility to be our brothers' keepers. Today's readings tell us that the expression, "It's none of my business." is not acceptable in the Christian life. Such an expression echoes a passage from the Book of Genesis where it states, "Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' He said, 'I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?'" [Genesis 4:9]
As parents, you are responsible and made accountable for the welfare of your children. As lawyers, you are responsible and made accountable for your clients. As Doctors, you are responsible and made accountable for your patients. As Police Officers, Security Guards or Correctional Officers, you are responsible and made accountable for your actions of upholding the law. Even Bank Managers are responsible and made accountable for the money deposits of their clients. In each occupation, there is a responsibility and full accountability.
The Words that you have heard today during the readings do not speak of worldly responsibility and accountability. They speak of God's commanded spiritual responsibility and accountability that each and everyone of you have towards your neighbours. The meaning of the word "neighbour" as used here has a wider extension than just meaning fellow Jews. It speaks of brotherly correction as is expected to be found in the Christian community.
From the Book of Ezekiel, you heard God commanding you to speak on His behalf. As Christians and ministers of the Word of God through your gift of the Sacrament of Baptism, you have a responsibility and are obligated to warn the wicked to turn away from their sinful ways so they will be saved them from spiritual death. If the sinners ignore you, they will suffer eternal damnation because of their free choice of embracing their evil ways. But you will receive your salvation for having obeyed and served the Lord God.
These Sacred Words of God echo many Bible passages that are commonly known. [Mt. 12:28-34] The first Bible passage says, "For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get." [Mt. 7:2] While this passage speaks of how some judge others without noticing the log in their own eyes, it holds another spiritual meaning. It speaks of tolerance, allowing freedom, being indifferent to the sins of others. The measure by which you give, you will receive. If you are indifferent to the sins of others, therefore giving approval of such sins, you are just as guilty of the sin of the sinner as if you had committed them.
This attitude of tolerance echoes another passages that comes later in the Gospel of Matthew. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." [Mt. 12:30] Either you are Christians and uphold the teachings of Jesus for the unity of the Holy Catholic Church or you are not true Christians, being indifferent to the teachings of Jesus.
The Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, is like a large life giving tree that stretches all over the world. You are the branches that have been attached to the tree of life who is Jesus Christ. Through your actions, you "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." [Mt. 12:33]
If you do not bear good fruits because of your indifference towards the sins of others, then the Lord Jesus shall come and prune the life giving tree, cutting you off as dead branches to be burned in the fire. "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." [Mt. 12:37]
In the second reading, St. Paul summed up for man the New Dispensation of the whole Mosaic Law. [Deut. 5:17-21; Lev. 19:18] "Love your neighbor as yourself." Just before that, he had said, "Owe no one anything." Why should you owe no one anything? It is because if you do, it can be used as a bargaining tool to silence you. If someone owes you money, you dare not speak of their sin in fear of losing what is owed to you. If you borrowed from someone, you dare not speak of their sin because he might demand immediate repayment. Lending and borrowing are great tools of the evil one to silence those who would otherwise speak up.
But what about God's command? How will you account to Him for your silence when you tell Him, "I did not want to say anything because he owed me money!" Is the Word of God and your salvation of lesser importance than the wealth of this world that will pass away?
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches you how to proceed as responsible and accountable spiritual brothers and sisters who are genuinely concerned for the spiritual life of others.
First of all, you are obligated to privately approach the sinner so you will not publicly humiliate him or her. If the sinner has sincerely repented, praise God and maintain that privacy afterwards. No one else needs to know of the sins of others to avoid a chain reaction of gossip that will damage the spiritual life of all those who become involved.
If the sinner remains indifferent to his salvation, you have an obligation to meet again, but this time with two or three witnesses. If the individual refuses to listen to all of you, tell it to the church. And if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a person be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. To the Jewish people, the Gentiles who were non-Jews, and the tax collectors were disliked. They were avoided.
Why did Jesus say to disassociate from them? It is because when you put a bad fruit among good fruits, the bad fruit corrupts the others. The good fruits begin to take the same shape as the bad fruit. If everyone is indifferent to the sin of one person, that sin becomes acceptable to the extent that soon or later, all are committing the same sin.
An example of such corruption has been witnessed over the years in the progressive acceptance of abortions.
"I was shocked to learn that no Protestant denominations had permitted contraception until 1930, when at its Lambert Conference the Anglican Communion announced it no longer viewed it as sinful. Since then, every single Protestant denomination had followed suit. What ensued was the inevitable progression from allowing contraception to allowing abortion." (Ref: "Surprised By Truth" by Patrick Madrid, Basilica Press, page 247)