“If Your Brother Sins Against You”
The first reading and the Gospel reading today both address the responsibility of believers to call out injustice and sinfulness when they see it. In the Old Testament reading, God tells the prophet, Ezekiel, that he must speak out to dissuade wicked people from doing harm, or he will be responsible for their deaths. Likewise, Jesus gives his disciples instructions for confronting those who have done wrong.
If there is one absolute in our secular culture today it is non-judgmentalism. Some people, seeking to defend this point of view from a Biblical perspective, will point to Jesus’ famous enjoinder: “Judge not and you will not be judged.” But as Bishop Robert Barron points out “what should be clear is that this cannot mean that we never point out moral failures—for Jesus does that all the time.” How should we navigate the ways of judgement and love? Our second reading, from Paul to the Romans, is most helpful here.
Paul points out that “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rm 13:10) For us to judge from a position of superiority or in an aggressive way defeats the very purpose of the law. For to love is to will the good of the other. To remain indifferent to someone’s moral failings is not an act of love. To blindly ignore a family member or a friend’s major transgressions because you are afraid it will hurt their feelings is not willing their good. In many ways it is just protecting yourself. For instance, if a parent is afraid to hurt a child’s feelings and does not intervene when there is an issue with drug abuse or drinking and driving, this is certainly not love.
So how precisely do you correct someone and stay within the bounds of love? Jesus provides us with three concrete steps to be taken.
Start with the most local and adjudicate upwards. Meet one-on-one and alone. Sometimes this can be hard to do and we are tempted to gossip or go around them. How many heartaches could have been avoided if the issue was addressed directly? Listen to the other person and try to understand their view. Present your view without coming across in a superior or aggressive manner. If he or she listens to you, excellent! You have successfully judged but in the context of love.
If there is no buy-in to what you are putting forward, go the next level with the same attitude of love. Seek the support of two or three good and like-minded people and make your case in a caring manner. An open-hearted person will find it hard to resist at this point. We need only look at the success of “intervention” programs to see how this can bring about the change that is needed.
Finally, Jesus says if no progress is being made, bring it to the church. The church is the community of people that care about that person in Christ and Jesus assures us that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:19-20) Jesus is saying that whenever the church is pursuing and is involved in a reconciliation process with someone who has refused to repent, they can rest assured that God’s blessing is with them in their efforts.
Three steps to follow “if your brother sins against you.” (MT 18:15) Not always easy, but if we remember that the basic meaning of the law is always love and that Jesus is in our midst, we can be confident that we are following the path of correction and reconciliation that God has laid out for us.
God bless you folks, Father Gerard
