One of the greatest things about Catholic life is living as a baptized member of Christ’s body. When we go to Mass, we experience this unity, most especially as we share in “Communion.” (That’s why it is called “Communion!”) Just after we have shared in the “sign of peace,” which symbolizes setting aside arguments, grievances, or anything else that separates us, we go to the altar and share the gift of the Eucharist. Further, at the end of Mass, we are sent out into the world to bring this unity of mind and spirit out into the world by spreading the Good News of Christ and His teachings. This unity among believers is beautiful, but it also carries responsibilities. For example, to maintain this communion, members of the body need to work together to ensure everyone is moving in the same direction, sharing in our Christian mission, and not separating themselves through sin or other negative behaviors. In other words, when we see someone we care about doing something wrong, we shouldn’t look the other way. This week’s readings drive this point home.
For example, our first reading (Ezekiel 33) makes it clear that God expects us to speak out when we know someone is being “wicked,” and if we don’t, we will be held responsible. It says, if “you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I (God) will hold you responsible for his death.” This “speaking out” is really about caring for one another—caring enough to want the best for them in all things, including the afterlife. You may have heard it called “speaking the truth in love.” To say nothing is a sin of omission, and it is for that sin that God holds us accountable. Keep in mind that, in the second reading (Romans 13), St. Paul reminds us that love is at the center of a Christian’s life. Loving our neighbors as ourselves and doing “no evil” to them sometimes means having these difficult conversations.
Our Gospel (Matthew 18) joins these themes of love and the handling of situations that can cause disunity. There, we hear a plan for dealing with another person’s sin lovingly. The focus is on going to them in private first. Later, if they don’t listen, the Church is to weigh in. The objective is not to shame or embarrass them. Luckily for us, hearing the Church’s teachings is as easy as looking at The Catechism of the Catholic Church or another official document. We don’t have to go before a board or committee. The goal is to know what the Church has to say so we know we are on firm ground in questioning its behavior. Another key point, though, is to view all of the Church’s teachings as means for us to grow into our best selves and flourish in the lives we live every day. If we don’t see that aspect of love in a commandment, policy, or rule, we need to dig deeper into the teaching (or reach out to your friendly Director of Discipleship Formation!).
One thing to remember, as today’s Psalm (95) reminds us, is that we need to be open on the receiving end, as well. We sing, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Christ speaking through others may show us that we might very well be the sinner in a particular situation. None of these readings allow us to point fingers at others unless we are also willing to look at ourselves. We all need an openness to guidance and correction in our journeys of discipleship. We are in this together!
To conclude, our readings link the idea of commandments and sins that cause disunity, showing us that we are expected to provide guidance and correction to those who have gone astray. We are compelled to be honest with others about what we are seeing in their actions, but in a way that includes love and compassion in every thought and word. Rightly, all of Christian living comes down to loving others as we love ourselves, and honesty in accountability among the members of the Body of Christ is one component of that love. This week, we ask, “How can I show someone I care enough to be honest?”
