ILIZWI REFLECTIONS
BIBLE MONTH
Sunday, 10 September 2023
23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezekiel 33: 7-9
Psalm 95
Romans 13: 8-10
Matthew 18: 15-20
I AM MY BROTHER’S/SISTER’S KEEPER
“You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for Me” – Ez 33:7
Gen 4:9 After Cain killed Abel, God asked Cain “where is your brother?” Cain answered, “am I my brother’s keeper?” In a world of each person for himself, in a world of minding one’s own business, Cain’s response is what we are inclined to.
When see someone sinning, slowly getting addicted, slowly straying away, we simply look aside. Many times we say “It’s none of my business”, or “I also have a lot myself”.
Today’s readings teach us the contrary. We are indeed our brother’s/sister’s keepers. Just like Ezekiel, by our baptism, we were appointed prophets, i.e., God’s mouthpiece and spokesperson, we have an obligation to speak on behalf of God to others.
In fact, the first reading says we are appointed “watchmen” over others. The term used here by God has a connotation of a person who watches over a city in times of war. We are at war with the Evil One and I have been appointed a watchman over my family and community in their moments of vulnerability or weakness.
In other words, God today is saying that the welfare and salvation of your neighbour is your business. If you don’t correct the sinning person, you will also be held responsible (Ez 33:8). Cain’s response will not be accepted when you are asked to account for the stray or lost brother/sister.
The reason we prefer to look aside is due to the Western influence of individualism. We think that my salvation is a question of ME making it to heaven. This is not Christianity. Christianity is fundamentally communal. We are fellow pilgrims. “No one sins alone and no one is saved alone.” See how plural the prayer “Our Father” is. We do not say, “My Father”, meaning that we approach God as “we”, “together”.
A beautiful African proverb says, “When one hut goes up in flames, it is the whole village that has been set on fire.”
The gospel and 2nd reading give us the procedure of bringing back the other or dealing with conflicts in the church. Paul says the basis for all this should be love. And Jesus in the passage commonly known as the “the sermon on the Church”, enumerates 3 steps.
First, talk to the person face to face. This is at a personal level. In this step, the aim is not to blame, humiliate, or accuse the other. People are able to see your hidden intentions! Be motivated by the love of the other.
If this fails, go with another person, a wise person, an objective person. See Deut 19:15. If it fails, go to the Church, and only after this can a person be excommunicated, treated like a gentile (v.47).
This excommunicated brother or sister, remember must be loved (Mt 5:46-47). We should always aim to win them back.
However, before going to correct someone, remember what Jesus says in Mt 7:5. First have a look at yourself, repent of your own sins, take out the log in your own eye so that you can see clearly speck in your sister’s eye (Mat 7:5).
The gospel ends in a powerful way, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I there in their midst” (v.20). This points to two verses which begin and end the gospel of Matthew. Mt 1:23 “his name shall be called Emmanuel, which means, God with us”. Mt 28:20 “behold I am with you always”.
Jesus promises to be always with us in our midst as a family, as a community, as a Church.
Importantly, Jesus also adds that when the community of Christians is acting together in unity (synodality) it is able to discern God’s will, such that whatever they bind, is bound in heaven (v.19).
May the ever presence of Christ in our midst help us to avoid gossip and conflict, and be loving watchmen and our brother’s keepers resulting in unity. So that we may together sing, “O come, let US sing to the Lord” (the Psalm).
In love with the Divine Word
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