There is a streak in today\u2019s readings that reminds us that our faith goes a fair way beyond a simple \u2018God and me\u2019 relationship. The prophet Ezekiel was told, in no uncertain terms, that his job was to warn the wayward of the consequences of their lives and press them to change. The psalmist urges his people to stop and listen to the voice of God, and Paul stresses the cardinal rule that the exercise of authentic love is the best way to carry out the will of God. In the Gospel extract Jesus points out how love always looks for mending and reconciliation when relationships go off the rails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ezekiel 33:7-9<\/strong> In this passage he uses the analogy of the watcher at the city walls whose responsibility was to warn the people of any danger that came to his notice. If the watchman sent out a danger message and the leadership ignored it, then the leaders would be responsible for what eventuated. If the watchman was slack and failed to warn the city, then he would be responsible and most certainly punished for his neglect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ezekiel sees his calling as a prophetic watchman bound to warn the wicked of the punishment they faced if they refused to turn their lives around. God tells him that if he failed to warn the wicked he will be responsible for that person\u2019s downfall. If the prophet warned him and he ignored the warning, then the wicked person is responsible for his own demise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the preamble to God\u2019s sending Ezekiel to the captives in Babylon to warn them of danger if they did not keep faith with God. The risk at the time was that the Israelites might go over to the Babylonian gods and abandon their own God. In fact, from a historical point of view, it was this potential danger that prompted the Jewish leaders to have the scribes draw up the Hebrew creation story that occurs in Genesis 1 as a counter to the Babylonian creation myth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, the prophet had a serious responsibility to warn people, who were not firm in their commitment to God, that destruction awaited them if they did not repent and change their ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 95<\/strong> Romans 13:8-10<\/strong> Love expresses itself through respect and courtesy Matthew 18:15-20 The point of this parable in both Matthew and Luke is that the flock, the community, is whole when it is united and all members are welcomed. Jesus is saying that no member should be made to feel out of place and even those who are living a life outside the expectations of a Christians community should feel the invitation to change and be welcomed back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anachronism in this passage that scholars write about is that it presupposes a church community as an established entity with a fixed level of procedures and organisation. Most scholars agree that Matthew wrote his Gospel in the years 80-90, after Mark, because of Matthew\u2019s use of Mark, and Mark assumes the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which happened in 70 AD. So, these verses speak to Matthew\u2019s community, which would be the mixture of baptised Jews and non-Jews in the Matthean church of the 80s of the first century. The most likely scenario is that Matthew has taken teachings from Jesus and the Christian tradition and shaped them to apply to a more developed church of the last quarter of the first century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remaining silent is not necessarily the best or the loving option when community harmony is at risk Direct personal and sensitive conversation is called for<\/strong> The steps that Matthew presents tell us that the movement to reconciliation is usually gradual and measured. The common sense of Jesus comes through clearly here showing he accepts that differences, personality clashes and wrongdoing are part of the human condition and can lead to conflict. But conflict needs to be eradicated through a process of reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One golden truth in the dynamics of these situations is that Christ is present with the community an prayer should play a part in the process of communal discernment. ~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A synodal Church is a Church that listens.<\/em> ~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A priest noticed that one of his parishioners regularly left Mass halfway through his homily. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is a streak in today\u2019s readings that reminds us that our faith goes a fair way beyond a simple \u2018God and me\u2019 relationship. The prophet Ezekiel was told, in no uncertain terms, that his job was to warn the wayward of the consequences of their lives and press them to change. The psalmist urges […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":29096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Ezekiel was a prophet of the Babylonian exile around 593\u2013571 BCE. The Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 587\/586 and in light of this devastation his message tended increasingly towards hope, restoration and renewal. The proviso, of course, was that the people would renew their commitment to their God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The poet here drives home the same message, namely, be attentive to the word of the Lord and if you hear the voice of warning coming from the Lord\u2019s prophet then listen to it and change your ways. There is a historic reference here to the Israelite ancestors under Moses who were not open to the Lord\u2019s correction. The word from Ezekiel is, don\u2019t go down the same track as our ancestors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul is virtually saying that there is no need for commandments to govern human behaviour if everyone practises authentic love towards each other. He begins by urging the community not to get into debt, that is, not to create binding obligations for themselves. The only real debt that makes sense is the obligation to practise mutual love \u2013 an obligation, incidentally, that can never be fully carried out, given the barrier of human weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Paul emphasises that those who genuinely love have fulfilled the law\u2019s requirements. And then he quotes Leviticus 19:18, \u2018You shall love your neighbour as yourself.\u2019 He is putting the whole issue of relationships in a community under the banner of mutual love, but he does not leave it there, because even those outside the community who may not share our faith deserve to be treated with the love that expresses itself through respect and courtesy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> We can see here a formula for reconciliation that should kick in when relationships break down or take a wrong turn. It follows immediately after Matthew\u2019s version of the parable of the lost sheep that emphasises the importance of proactively seeking to iron out differences and ill feelings in the hope of arriving at a point of reconciliation. And, of course, there is much rejoicing when the lost one is brought back into the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Reflecting on this extract we can appreciate how remaining silent is not necessarily the best or the loving option when community harmony is at risk. We have all experienced situations in relationships when an uncomfortable truth needs to be voiced, and this for the sake of repentance and healing, not for condemnation. Ezekiel himself quotes the Lord, \u2018As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live\u2019 (Ezekiel 33:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The procedure in this passage focuses initially on respect. Nobody likes to have their faults pointed out to them, so, a non-confrontational, thoughtful and courteous approach is important. Direct personal and sensitive conversation is called for. The restoration of a relationship will never be achieved if the goal is to score points or punish the offender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Francis, address 17 October 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually he approached him.
\u2018John, I\u2019ve noticed that you often leave while I\u2019m preaching. Is there a problem?\u2019
\u2018Oh no, Father,\u2019 John replied. \u2018It\u2019s nothing to do with your preaching. I have a medical condition.\u2019
The priest became concerned.
\u2018I\u2019m sorry to hear that. What condition?\u2019
John replied, \u2018I walk in my sleep.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Dr. Laurie Wood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n