23 A

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time A
Introduction: Matthew’s Gospel has five sections of Jesus’ teaching. Today’s Gospel comes from the fourth section. It has received different titles. The one I like best is: The first rule of life of a Christian community built upon Jesus’ words." The teachings in this rule of life apply to families, parishes and communities. The basic theme of this discourse is: THE CARE WE NEED TO HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
Don Senior divides the elements of the discourse in this way:1) conversion, turn and become like children (l8:l-4) 2) care for the little ones (l8:5-9) 3) care for the marginal (l8:l0-l4) actively seek out straying sheep. 4) procedures for reconciliation within the community (l8: l5-20) 5) the call for limitless (2l-22) forgiveness (l8: 23-35)

HOMILY
The need for the Christian to seek out the stray and not condemn the stray is complemented by procedures for reconciliation. How are we, as followers of Jesus, to deal with the backsliders in our families, our parishes, our communities? A step by step process is given.
1) What is my reaction when someone sins against me? Usually we expect the offending person to come to us. But Jesus’ process calls for something different. We must be the ones to approach the offender. We are to do this one to one. It sounds easy. It isn’t easy. It is one of the most difficult things to do. It is much easier to find a sympathetic soul upon whom to unburden our grievance; or worse, to air it at once before the whole community; or even worse to take one’s grievances to outsiders. It takes courage to approach the brother or sister personally, and it also takes wisdom to know how. But whether out of cowardice or fear of rejection or passing the responsibility to someone else, how often this simple and direct method is avoided.
It is easier to fall into criticism, gossip. Sometimes authority figures make a general rebuke to a group rather than going one to one. This can allow the person who is the offender to say, “he must be talking about someone else.” The person in the group who has done nothing wrong says, “Gee I wonder if he is talking about me?” This person can go on a guilt trip.

2) If the backslider won’t listen to us one to one, we are then to confront him/her together with a small group. Alcoholics Anonymous speaks about the helping effect of an Intervention. Several people who love and are concerned about a person, name specific detrimental behaviors and set an ultimatum.

3) If the backslider won’t listen to the small group, we are to bring him/her to the church community. If he/she ignores this community, then we are to go to the process of exclusion. The person is to be treated as a gentile or tax collector. However, it is important to keep in mind that Jesus relates to gentiles and tax collectors as persons to be evangelized.

4) Even for those who go through these steps and are no longer open to the direct invitation to return, there is still hope through the prayerful intercession of the community. “..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.”

Have I interiorized and practiced Jesus’ process? Next week we will hear Jesus tell the story about the unforgiving Servant. We can be that type of Christian. The need for reconciliation dominates the second half of this discourse.