In
this gospel passage Jesus encourages useful fraternal correction by
those who also see the need of correction in their own lives. No one is above
the need for evaluation of motive and action; no one is exempt from judgment
from God. It is when we, as creatures of God, try to “play God” in being
judgers of others that we overstep our bounds.
And of course we must always remember God does not look at the surface
of things, but he looks into the heart: what might appear out of line from our
perspective might not be out of line by God’s. This does not mean that we
refrain from truly helping one another when we see our brothers and sisters
dangerously going astray: Jesus came for the lost and wandering sheep! We must
help him bring back the wayward – by hook
or by crook – but always in a charitable way. Charity and justice go hand
in hand! A whole new world of responsibility opens up when these two are joined
together in the mind and heart of the believer in Jesus.
In
the first reading from the Book of Genesis we now begin our trek
through the Old Testament yet another time. Abram and his wife Sarai are sent
out on a whole new adventure in their lives – at age 75: God can use anyone he
chooses to do his work, at any age, in any place! If Abram did not go, then
there would be no Old or New Testaments; no promise or fulfillment; no Jesus or
Church! But he did go, and he did cooperate fully with God’s plan for his life:
and he became the Father in Faith of many nations – as many as who would want
to be. May we count ourselves solidly among them this day!
The
word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts
of the heart!
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