Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of
the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (16th August, 2017) on the
Gospel
Deut 34:1-12;
Ps 65:1-3.5.16-17. (R. cf. vv.20.9);
Matt 18:15-20.
Topic: Gentiles and tax collectors.
Jesus while teaching in today’s gospel gave steps towards
reconciling with the offenders. They include going to the offender alone, going
with one or two others, and presenting the matter to the church. He concludes,
“… if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to
you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (Matt
18:17).
The Jews classified the Gentiles and tax collectors among the
worst sinners. Devout Jews are not expected to have anything to do with them
not even making effort to convert them. In the early Church, some of the
apostles and other Christians maintained this tradition. Hence they criticized
Peter, cf. Acts 11:2.
However Jesus’ attitude towards them did not follow this
tradition. In fact, it was among the barriers that prevented them from
believing Him to be the son of God, cf. Mk
2:16; Lk 7:39. And His reply to those complaining against Him dinning and
winning with the tax collectors and other sinners is, “… Those who are well
have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this
means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous
but sinners” (Matt 9:12-13; cf. Lk 5:32;
Hos 6:6). He was even nicknamed “… a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
(Matt 11:19).
Jesus instructs His followers to love their enemies and pray
for those who persecute them, cf. Matt 5:44.
We know that love bears all things and never ends, cf. 1Cor 13: 7-8). Saint Paul admonishes us, “Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Rom 12:14).
The summary of all the commandments given to Christians is to
love everybody, cf. Matt 5:43-48; Jn
13:35; 1Jn 4:21. Saint Paul rightly noted that without love every gift and
good deeds come to naught, cf. 1Cor 13:2-3.
Our love ought not to be “… in word or speech but in deed and in truth” (1Jn 3:18). Whoever hates is the real
Gentile and tax collector. Saint Paul cautioned Saint Peter publicly “… If you,
though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the
Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Gal 2:14).
After the three steps given by Jesus in today’s gospel comes the most important
one, LOVE. We ought to love everybody no matter how difficult it is for we all
have the same God, and are all members of the same body, the Church, cf. Rom 3:29; Eph 3:6.
Bible Reading: Matt 5:43-48; Lk 3:7-14; 5:27-32; 1Cor 13:1-13; Eph
2:11-3:21.
Thought for today: How do you treat your Gentiles and
tax collectors?
Let us pray: Merciful God, give us a heart of flesh that we
may love everybody even as you love us – Amen.
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