Good Shepherd Catholic Parish

Paul T. Keil, 9-10 September 2023

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Season A

Peace be with you and welcome to our celebration of the Mass for the 23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  You know folks, as I sat down and read this Gospel reading today and meditated on it for a while, personally, I was a little confused.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told people how thankful we all should be because Jesus Christ let us off the hook about judging others.  I mean right here in Matthew’s own Gospel back in Chapter 7 Jesus says clearly, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.”  Oh, by the way, his guidance about non-judgementalism is a common thread throughout all four Gospels.  Today however, we just heard Jesus give his disciples guidance that sounds an awful lot like they are supposed to judge and then act.  So, what gives here Lord?  Are we supposed to be judgmental Christians or non-judgmental Christians?  And what am I supposed to do with this kind of a question during an 8- or 9-minute homily?

Well, before we try to peel back the layers around this perceived contradiction in Matthew, let’s look at our second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans for a couple of minutes, where Paul says; “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.”  And then again, he says, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”  Generally, that’s the same thing Jesus said over and over when he was discussing the Mosaic Law with the Pharisees and Scribes isn’t it?  And if you’ve heard me preach before, you’ve often heard me quote St Thomas Aquinas’ definition of this “pure love” Jesus and Paul are talking about.   “Love is, willing the good of the other.”  Friends – this must always be our start point as we read the Bible.  Jesus made it really, really simple; love God and love your neighbor.  And Aquinas clarified love of neighbor when he told us; “Love is, willing the good of the other.”  Oh my, oh my!  Such easy words to say but so very hard to put into practice.

OK, with this definition of love as our footing and start point, let’s go back to the Gospel reading.  First of all, I followed the advice I give others when something I read in the Bible confuses me.  I turn to expert scholarly commentary and here I found something about Matthew’s Gospel.  Scholars tell us there are 5 great sermons or discourses by Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel.  Today we just heard a small part of the “Church Order” discourse from Chapter 18.  So, to put today’s Gospel in complete context, I would recommend you sit down and read all of Chapter 18 sometime soon.  Could that be homework?

Jesus’ discourse is all about disciples caring for each other with respect to guarding the other’s faith, to seek out those who have wondered away from the fold, and repeatedly forgive those who have offended them.  OK, you still might ask; what about this part of Jesus’ sermon we heard today.  About going to someone who sinned and ultimately, if they don’t listen, treating them like a Gentile or a tax collector?  Not only does that sound judgmental but it also sounds pretty final.

Well, here is an excellent example of why reading the whole of scripture is so important.  First remember our anchor point about love.  “Love is, willing the good of the other.”  Next, listen to how Jesus starts this discourse in Matthew 18.  We did not hear it in today’s Gospel, but this is important because it really puts the whole Chapter 18 sermon in context.  “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Wow!  My sisters and brothers, this simple sentence not only defines Jesus’ principal criticism of the religious hierarchy he was always butting heads with, but it provides us with clear direction for interpreting today’s Gospel reading.

Jesus is clear throughout the NT, final judgment always belongs to God but based on today’s readings, we are not supposed to ignore a fellow Christian who is spiritually in trouble with self-destructive behavior.  Here are some guidelines to follow, however; don’t approach anyone with an “in your face” stance of moral superiority.  That’s exactly what those Pharisees were always doing.  Never use Scripture or the Church as a weapon of moral aggression.  Always approach your brother or sister with love.  Remember, love is, willing the good of the other.

We have a real challenge with today’s modern culture to deal with.  We so easily fall into the “I’m OK, you’re OK” trap and morally don’t care what others are doing.  It seems everyone believes they have the right to their own opinions about everything, don’t they?  Whether it’s a personal lifestyle, to the definition of marriage, to when a human life actually begins, or when human life should end, it’s my right to decide.  And what’s really sad is, people often use Jesus’ own words in the Bible about judging others to defend their own behavior, no matter how bizarre or self-destructive that behavior may be.  Well guess what?  Friends, here’s the message from our Gospel reading today, so listen up.  If we remain indifferent to a friend’s moral failures or self-destructive behavior, we are NOT demonstrating Christian love.  We are NOT willing the good of the other.  And if you think moral behavior is subjective, go read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6, and 7.  The Gospel is not about judgement at all, it’s about pulling a wayward disciple back into God’s covenant love when they’ve gone astray. 

So, what are we supposed to do when we encounter immoral behavior?  First read today’s Gospel.  Then, in a context of love,,, talk.  Talk one-on-one.  We so often do exactly the opposite though, don’t we?  The individual whose behavior is destructive is often the last person we talk to.  It’s just so easy and sometimes actually fun, to talk to others or even turn to social media when we find someone’s behavior objectionable.  Our culture gives us examples of that every day, but the Gospel message is this; sit down eye-to-eye in an atmosphere of humble love talk and pray.  The next step, if that doesn’t work, is what the 12-step process calls intervention.  Two or three of you who sincerely love and are honestly concerned about your brother’s or sister’s spiritual well-being,,, talk and pray.  And finally, after 2000 years we’re not worshipping in community in homes anymore, so “go tell the Church” is not an answer.  Go to the community that cares because of love.  And that may take many forms such as, professional mental health care or a support group.

OK, say all of that fails.  What exactly does, “treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector” mean?  It means don’t be seduced by someone else’s immorality.  Don’t empower their destructive behavior.  My friends, Jesus Christ himself sat down and broke bread with sinners all the time.  It drove those self-righteous Pharisees nuts and they finally crucified him.  You never hear Jesus tell the prostitute, “Just keep on doing what you’re doing,” however.  His message is always one of repentance and love.  He didn’t turn his back on the sinner but it’s always the sinner who walked away from the encounter changed, not Jesus.