23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
GENTILES IN OUR MIDST
Matthew's gospel contains
a valuable lesson for the church in its 18th chapter. The
church soon became an institution and the gospel foresaw the problems
that would arise in the future. Any institution is invested with
power and authority. The gospel desires to steer the attention of
those concerned to use this mandate in the way that conforms to the
mind and heart of Jesus.
The teaching in today's
proclamation does not speak of one's brother in the usual or familial
way. The “brother who sins” is the one considered a “reprobate”
by the Christian community. A reprobate is not an ordinary sinner; he
is a scoundrel, a villain, a real problematic figure. How should
Christians act toward a person who is a trouble maker in the church?
Jesus tells us that we
need to personally correct such a brother, involving others if he
should resist that initial personal approach. If all else fails, he
should be treated like a “Gentile” (foreigner) or a “tax
collector.” In this last resort, we might think that the reprobate
is to be treated as a hopeless case, as a lost sheep, an outcast.
After all, did not Jews think of Gentiles as outsiders, and tax
collectors as pariah of civil society?
Let us remember however,
that the standard we should use in looking at people is not that of
the Jews or of society, but of Jesus. How did Jesus treat Gentiles?
How did Jesus regard tax collectors?
The Lord Jesus showed
compassion to the non-Jews, extending to them his mercy, his healing,
his helping hand. And from among tax collectors, Jesus chose his
followers and granted them forgiveness, new life, and fresh mission
in the world. So for Jesus, the trouble-makers around us are people
who we must not conveniently throw away. Rather we must pursue them,
love them, bring them back even if their response is a hardened
heart. We cannot turn our backs on any “brother” or “sister”
who sins. Jesus never did!
Today we cannot
understand why the church speaks for drug dependents and their
families who are hunted down, threatened or killed; or for those in
prisons and jails for whom bloodthirsty lawmakers want the return of
the death penalty. It is because of Jesus that the church advocates
life, reformation, and renewal.
As members of the church,
let us also try to recall people we refuse to admit into our circle
just because they are not perfect. Many Catholics think that they are
perfect disciples and when they find others who do not live up to
their standard, they despise these brothers and sisters. May we learn
to embrace like Jesus and to not push away others like the “perfect”
members of our church do.
