By virtue of the Sacrament of Baptism, we are priests, kings, and prophets (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 783). The scripture readings of the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20, focus on our duty as baptized prophets in acts of love for one another so that the law may be fulfilled.
The First Reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) reminds us that we,
as prophets today, have the duty of watchmen to correct one another whenever do
wrong so that faith and moral integrity of the Church can be maintained. The
Reading also warns that our failure to warn our brothers and sisters, who are
committing errors, so that they can correct themselves. If we fail to do this,
then, in the eyes of God, we are guilty for this sin of omission.
Jesus, in the Gospel Reading (Matthew 18:15-20),
offers us more practical advice as to how you, as a prophet and watchman of the
Church, can correct a member of the Church, who commits wrongdoing, whether
they exhibit sinful behaviors or spreading heresies.
If you encounter a person in error, you call this
person and speak to him or her in confidence (Matthew 18:15). You are not to
spread gossip (Romans 1:29-32; Proverbs 11:12-13). Thus, it is imperative that you
keep the matter between you and the person. However, if the person does not
listen to you, then, you bring one or two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15), to
help this person understand that the allegation has an established objective
truth (Matthew 18:16). But if the person continues to be defiant, then, the
Church tribunal should be held to decide whether this person is to be
excommunicated (to be no longer as a member of the Church) (Matthew 18:17).
Regarding such a person as a Gentile or a tax collector (v.17) from a Jewish
perspective means “an outsider”. And Jesus reminds us that this is the binding
authority of the Church (Matthew 18:18), auxiliary to the papal authority given
to Peter by Jesus (Matthew 16:19), reflecting God’s commandments to priests and
judges of Israel before having king (Deuteronomy 18:1-22).
Then, Jesus assures of his presence in our fellowship held
his name and blesses our fellowship at large, the Church (Matthew
18:19-20). After all, Jesus is Emmanuel,
which means “God with us”, born of the Blessed Virgin (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah
7:14), for he is the Christ incarnated to dwell among us (John 1:14).
It is our duty as priests and prophets, as baptized
Catholics, to keep the Church’s purity and integrity, as well as, peace and
harmony, by serving as watchmen, to ensure that errors are corrected. For this,
those who obstinately refuse to repent and correct themselves despite multiple
chances given, are to be excommunicated by the Church’s binding authority to
reflect the purity of heaven on the Church.
In light of the Second Reading (Romans 13:8-10), this is, after all, our acts of love for one another, as commanded by Jesus (John 13:34). Out of our love for one another, we correct each other’s errors and misconducts so that none would be excommunicated or condemned by God. And this is how we take our part in fulfilling the law.
It is not easy to confront misdeeds and errors of our
brothers and sisters in our fellowship. But we make sure that we do not let sentimentalism
destruct us from fulfilling the law by acting on genuine Christian love to help
them repent and correct themselves so that they would neither excommunicated by
the Church nor condemned by God. This is also our baptismal call to serve as
priests and prophets. Love is our responsibility to act for one another so that
the law is fulfilled, resulting in our salvation. Those who turn their blind eyes to sinful acts and heresies of their brothers and sisters are on false love and moral cowards subject to due judgement (Revelation 21:8), because they are not fulfilling their baptismal call to serve as priests and prophets, as watchmen of the Church. Of course, we are not cowards as long as being filled with the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:7).
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