During the past few days the first readings for Mass from the book of Ezekiel, have given us an account of some very unusual occurrences, and vivid descriptions of beings that we can not even begin to imagine. However, in today’s account, there is a simple, universal theme that everyone can understand and relate to. That is because there is such a thing as right and wrong. We were all born with the moral law written on our conscience, and most of us can relate to living in a culture that is too tolerant of sin.
Moral relativism has taken over many aspects of our modern culture in varying degrees. Living together without being married is very common and accepted by many people now. People look at you funny if you mention that a child was born ‘out of wedlock’ these days, because being a single parent is also pretty common. Abortions are not discussed very much in our personal lives, but we accept that it is a legally protected right, even if it doesn’t personally apply to us. The laws over marriage, the basic building blocks of society, are also being challenged to include homosexual unions now.
It hurts to read these words, because they are only the tip of the iceberg of the moral relativism that is running rampant through our families, communities and the country that we live in. They personally affect us. To pretend that it doesn’t have to be dealt with, or that it can be ignored though, is wrong. It is a tough balancing act to be able to speak up for what is right, and what is wrong, without losing those you love in the process.
Today’s first reading for Mass is a stern reminder though, of how serious God takes sin. The ones who ‘complain’ to one another over the serious sins in their midst are actually the heroes of the story. God spared their lives. But, in our modern times, people who complain over the grievous sins in our midst are viewed as harsh and ‘judgmental’. It is a shame that they never read the bible, or they would see by today’s first reading for Mass, that God is the one who is judgmental. He killed off all of those who did nothing about the serious state of sin that was permeating their culture, beginning with those who lived in the temple. He started with those who were supposed to have a higher degree of holiness first, because they were supposed to set the example for the rest of the people, but they failed to do so.
The gospel today continues the theme of the need to address serious sins. What a shame that more people do not have the courage to do as the gospel demonstrates, because it could really help prevent and heal the moral deterioration of our families, communities and country. It’s hard to do this, so people avoid it. Even reading the scriptures today are distasteful to some, because they are seeking the consolations of God without His corrections too. God’s consolations and His corrections go hand in hand though, for our own good.
There is much wisdom in the advise to go to your brother who sins against you and confront his sin in private. If he realizes his error, then no one else needs to know about it. It saves face for the person you needed to correct, and this helps to retain their human dignity. We would want to be shown this same courtesy ourselves. No one wants their faults, sins and shortcomings to become public knowledge. It’s hard enough to heal one person’s bad opinion of you, but it is almost impossible to heal the damage to your good reputation if many other people are aware of your sins and shortcomings too.
However, a progression of assertion over a serious sin is necessary. Many people will gently correct a person and then let it go when they meet with resistance. They don’t want to make them mad, so they keep quiet about it after their first attempt to talk to them. This is also a form of giving consent to evil though, to drop the matter at the slightest resistance.
The gospel says that after you have enlisted the aid of other respected people to try and talk to the person committing the serious sin, and they refuse to listen even then, we are supposed to treat them like a ‘Gentile or tax collector’. (That sounds judgmental now, doesn’t it? Jesus instructs us to treat sinners differently than everyone else. We should not feel guilty if we are called ‘judgmental’ at times because Jesus Christ himself was judgmental in serious matters.)
The last part of the gospel should bring us much peace though:
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, 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. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
We have the power of prayer available to us every day. Jesus gave us the power of prayer, and that is why it is so powerful to join forces with other people to pray for one another, and our family, friends and nation. We can pray for the conversion of sinners. Even those in the most serious states of sin will not be lost if they turn to the merciful love and forgiveness of the Lord. We should never lose hope in our loved ones who have strayed, because Jesus is always knocking on the door of their hearts. Perhaps their hearts will soften at any moment, through the graces they receive through our prayers for them. May God grant them the openness of heart to begin to see a better way of life, a life lived in holiness and filled with genuine love.
Daily Mass Readings:
Ezekiel 9: 1-7, 10: 18-22 / Psalm 113 / Matthew 18: 15-20
