Judging by the headlines, we live in a world of overwhelming turmoil. Protests continue in several cities. Family members are alienated; neighbors are at odds with one another; there is even animosity within the church. Citizens distrust their governments, nations nurse longstanding grudges and terrorism threatens us all. We can remain silent and do nothing, allowing the unrest to ferment or we can heed the advice found in these readings, which revolve around the themes of sin, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Ezekiel, the prophet, points out that the prophet’s duty is to warn sinners amongst God’s people to bring them to their senses and make them confront their sinfulness. Prophets hope that sinners will turn from their sinful ways, be forgiven and reconciled with God and their neighbors.
Rarely does any reconciliation process begin with those who have done the harm coming to their senses and seeking forgiveness. The first step, according to Jesus, is for the one who has suffered the hurt to confront the person who has caused it. That is not an easy step for us to take. Few of us do the art of confrontation well.
Instead, when we have been hurt, we are more inclined to share our pain with others through gossip then we are to speak directly to the one who has hurt us. But there will never be peace as long as the one who is hurt allows that hurt to fester and grow by recounting it to others. If the one who was hurt musters the courage to speak to the other, and if the offender has the courage to listen honestly and openly, reconciliation becomes a possibility.
If the one on one approach doesn’t work, resulting in some manner of reconciliation, then Jesus suggests doing the next step. “Take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
And if that doesn’t work, then involve the whole community. If that doesn’t work, treat the offender as you would a Gentile or tax collector. (Lest you think Jesus is suggesting that we exclude that person, recall that Jesus often befriended and ate with such people.) He isn’t telling us to punish, shun or excommunicate the sinner but to treat him or her like someone who isn’t yet committed to following the gospel.
I suspect the majority of you have not celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation in a long while. That may be for any number of reasons, but imagine God being the one who is hurt by what you have said, done or failed to do and is now coming to you for reconciliation. Through this much-neglected sacrament, God offers us the opportunity to repent, be forgiven and be reconciled, not only to God but to our faith community as well.
This sacrament is no longer seen as an isolated exclusive means of obtaining forgiveness for one’s sins, but as the source and summit of a whole Christian life of conversion.
In this sacrament, the confessor, after listening to the penitent, offers a penance. Often I suggest that the penitent say the Lord’s Prayer, then keep the promise made in that prayer. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I invite penitents to think of those whom they need to forgive and ask God for the grace to do so. Sometimes I have to remind them that forgive and forget do not mean the same thing. I then urge them to think of anyone whose forgiveness they need for what they have said, done or failed to do and if a name comes to mind to then ask God to give that person the grace to forgive them.
Whenever we say the Lord’s Prayer, we pledge ourselves to participate in the dynamic of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. Having experienced forgiveness from God, we have the obligation to extend forgiveness to others, rather than revenge or retaliation. That is part of loving one’s neighbor, which Paul reminds us fulfills the law. Unlike revenge, retaliation or anger, love is the one thing that cannot hurt our neighbor.
Jesus never said we have to like everyone, but he is urging us to love them but what does he mean? So often when we think of love, we think of erotic love, which attracts one person to another, perhaps leading to a lasting marital relationship or philia, the love that binds friends together. But Jesus and Paul are speaking of another kind of love, namely agape; selfless love, which is best demonstrated by respect, compassion and charity toward others. This manner of love overcomes prejudice and hatred. If we really love our neighbor, Paul contends that we would not disobey the commandments. We would not commit adultery, murder, steal or covet another’s property.
In this life, we will never be a perfect community nor be a perfect church, because we will always have the human dimension at work with its imperfections and weaknesses yet in every pardon there is love. As today’s readings suggest, love requires an extraordinary willingness and capacity on our part to forgive others and to help them turn from evil ways. If we truly want salvation for our brothers and sisters, it will be necessary at times to tell them kindly that their errant action is separating them from God. Doing so may not be well received, but love demands that we share our concerns if we are to make this a better world, where the peace of God’s kingdom can be felt.