23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

September 6, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9

Psalm 95 “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Second Reading: Romans 13:  8-10

Gospel reading according to Matthew 18: 15-20

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Homily:

After Jesus rebuked Peter about what he was thinking and commanding him not to go to Jerusalem to suffer and to die, that he was thinking the human wisdom instead of God′s will, Peter with loving a heart to Jesus asked pardon and forgiveness for what he was saying to Jesus, his Master and Teacher. Afterwards, Jesus, as true Master and Teacher, faced his other disciples to teach them forgiveness, compassion and mercy – the fraternal correction. “Jesus said to his disciples: ‵If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone′. . .” (Matthew 18: 15).  He said to his disciples, if one of them committed sin against one of them, bring him into reconciliation by talking to him in private. You and him alone.  So that nobody learned that one of them committed sin and the brother who committed sin will not put shame in front of his other brothers.  Talk to him privately and tell him the sin he committed.  Maybe he was not aware of the sin he has done.  For sometimes, we, too, are unaware of what we are saying or doing and we do not realize that we are already hurting the feelings, emotions, the heart and mind, and even the whole human person of our brother(s) (and/or sister(s)). And he/she who was hurt must tell immediately the circumstances, the content of what he said or done, the time and place of that event, to bring to mind what your brother had said and/or done. Never let the time, the day pass without saying to your brother and/or sister that you have been hurt.  Imagine, months, years, decades had passed and only that time/day or moment you told him his/her sin.  He has forgotten and gone already in his mind, especially if he did not mean it or it was a split of tongue, without any malice; but for you it was very significant.

Sometimes also it is difficult to admit one′s sin, especially if you are not aware, especially if it is already a century ago, (to exaggerate).  He can deny it if he did not remember the event, time  and place, and the  circumstance of that sinning, especially  if it was not significant to him, but in you, it cannot release in  your mind and  heart even it was  long, long time ago; you  cannot sleep, you cannot  eat, hindi ka mapakali, to  carry it  all the day long, and you are suffering  a lot because of it.  He cannot accept what he has said or done, he did not listen to you for he cannot admit it.  “. . . ‵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′. . .” (Matthew 18: 16).  The tendency of that brother is to deny the sin he committed.  If this happens, you may ask one or two of your other brothers whom you have shared and told about the event, because you cannot sleep or bear any longer the ill feelings, the hurt you experienced against your brother who committed sin against your will.  They can help to bring reconciliation and to amend the sin he has done.  Maybe these witnesses can also pacify the hurt and ill feelings you underwent. 

Sometimes, also, if the witnesses are not credible, because they are your close friends, he became suspicious and bias even if they were objective in bringing back the good, harmonious relationship with that brother who sinned against you.  . “. . . ‵If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church′. . .” (Matthew 18: 17).  Jesus was telling his disciples to bring the matter to the whole community of the faithful, to the assembly of God, just to amend and be reconciled to one another so that the brotherhood may be brought back to normal.   Let the whole congregation decide on what to do to both brothers, the one who was hurt and the other who had sinned. Yet, the issue became known and spread to the whole Church.

And, in the end, if the brother who sinned did not listen to the People of God who are God fearing and loving, and nothing can be done to bring to the fold that brother who sinned, while the other brothers were ready to forgive and accept him in the brotherhood, Jesus suggesting to treat him as a gentile or a tax collector. “. . . ‵If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector′. . .” (Matthew 18: 18).  When everything was exhausted, and still nothing happened to win that brother, but that brother hardened his heart and mind, for he was proud and thinking he did not commit any sin.  He did not listen to his brother whom he committed sin, he did not listen too to one or two witnesses and much more he did not listen to the Church people, Jesus said, treat him as a gentile or a tax collector, for the gentile and tax collector is stubborn, does not listen to others′ advice, who is all-knowing, conceited, hard-headed, and feeling sinless.

He taught them also that whatever they agreed (as in a contract), it is bound in heaven and on earth.  “‵Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven′.” (Matthew 18: 19).  The agreement must be between two or more mature persons and have the capacity to enter into an agreement. A minor cannot enter into an agreement even if the other party is matured enough, so also the differently abled persons (or mentally handicapped adults), for they do not know what they are entering into. The agreement of two abled persons is binding and cannot be changed, except if there are impediments in the contact.

This is the truth of our faith.  Jesus is always present and in company to guide us in making a decision or an agreement.  Every time we agreed on a certain issue, like forgiveness of sin committed by our brothers, like the example mentioned above, and we agreed to forget and to continue the harmonious relationship, Christ Jesus is in our midst.   “‵Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them′.”   (Matthew 18: 20).  Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior, is also the Wisdom and the Love of God sent to us to be our intercessor to Him, to answer our petitions.  God, our heavenly Father, listens to our prayers (samo at hiling, pakiusap), especially when two or three are asking in Jesus′ name, his Son.