Watchmen and Brothers: Reflections on the Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

If you haven’t already read the readings you can find them here.

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” These words from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s beautiful love poem have broader implications than romance. As the readings for today show us there are many ways God tells us we must love our neighbors. Our responsibility to God is expressed in the many ways we respect and treat others, beginning with our family. C.S. Lewis wrote about the four loves. Dr. Peter Kreeft has a list of fourteen. Nevertheless, love is a hands-on endeavor; active, not passive.

In the first reading from Ezekiel, God is notifying the prophet, and through him, us, that we have a responsibility to look out for others. This is all part of the requirement to love our neighbor. I have written previously about our duty to admonish the sinner (love the sinner, hate the sin), and here God is telling Ezekiel just that; “... when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.” And we hear God’s word every week at Mass (and hopefully in our own readings of Scripture and the Catechism).

And God warns us that there are consequences if we fail to “speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way.” We may not be able to dissuade them and, if that is the case, God will punish the wicked for his sin. But, if we fail to warn them, then we assume some of the responsibility for that sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church spells this out fairly clearly in article 1868. “Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them.” (Read how we might be cooperating in your Catechism.) This is especially significant as we are nearing election season and there are many candidates and platforms that are in direct opposition with the two-thousand-year history of Catholic teaching. For example, voting for those who support abortion (see CCC 2270-2275), euthanasia (CCC 2276-2283), LGBT lifestyle(being homosexual in itself is not a sin; CCC 2357-2359), and so on is putting your immortal soul in danger.

Turning someone away from sin is an act of love. Even if you are unsuccessful you have a duty to try. Read my previous post, Admonish the Sinner here.

The responsorial psalm alludes to God’s laws and our necessity to listen and follow them. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” God has given us the means for salvation, providing we make a concerted effort to turn away from our sinfulness. We see His works every day, beginning with the sunrise that sheds light on us and our world, driving away the darkness that hides, confuses, and obscures evil. As we are His sheep, we need to follow His guidance.

Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans spells the issue of loving one’s neighbor very clearly. Citing the Commandments he notes that, after love of God, they guide us in our loving relationship with our neighbors. Jesus even took it a step further, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you ...” (Matthew 5:43-44)

Saint Thomas Aquinas explained love as willing the good of the other. And this is how we can love even our enemies. If they are truly evil, then willing that they might turn away from their wickedness is willing their betterment. St. Augustine defines evil as disordered love, usually centered on pride, putting oneself above others and even above God. Remember, “I Did It My Way” is the theme song of Hell.

The gospel reading ties directly into the reading from Ezekiel as well as the Catechism notes on sin. Jesus is telling the disciples that when they are confronted with the sin of a brother, they should first counsel him, and if that doesn’t work, “take one or two others along with you.” If that doesn’t work, direct him to the Church (e.g., confession). If he still does not change his ways, treat him like you would a tax collector or a Gentile. In other words, have nothing to do with him. This is tantamount to excommunication. People have the wrong idea about excommunication, thinking of it as a punishment by “throwing someone out of the Church.” Rather, excommunication is formal recognition that the individual is already outside the Church.

Some of the things we are mentioning here are captured in the spiritual works of mercy, such as admonishing the sinner, counseling the doubtful, and instructing the ignorant. Works of mercy are works of love. Just from the examples of this week’s readings we can see that there are many ways by which we can effect our need to love our neighbor (are you counting?).

We acknowledge this in every Mass when we say the Confiteor (“I Confess”). One of the key phrases is “I have greatly sinned, ... in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.” And notice that we not only confess that we are sinners to God (although He already knows that), but also to “you, my brothers and sisters.” This is because, although we might deny it, even our small sins have an impact beyond ourselves, much like the ripples that spread out when a stone is thrown into a puddle or body of water.

Finally, as God is love, Jesus urges us to be one with Him and one another. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." And this is the foundation of the love of God and of the Church. We are a community, “the communion of saints.” It’s because we have forgotten God and forgotten this (which came first?) that we (a parish, a city, nation, the world) cannot get along.

Recently I participated in a Knights of Columbus ceremony which covered the principles of the Knights; charity, unity, and fraternity. Such is an example for all of us in our relations with others, our neighbors. There are many broken families out there, even those that seem intact. That’s where it starts, in the home. If we can remember our connection to blood relatives, it can anchor us in remembering that we are all one race, all part of the family of God, all brothers and sisters. As the saying goes, charity begins in the home. And charity is love, the greatest of the virtues.