Reality shows have dominated television in the United States for decades. It appears that we, as a nation, are obsessed with other people's trials, tribulations, conflicts, suffering, and occasionally their successes and failures. Few of us enjoy having our own faults, flaws, inadequacies or mistakes pointed out to us or to others. However, if we use TV ratings as our guide, clearly, we enjoy watching the public humiliation of others. Public humiliation as entertainment is big business but it has no place in the kingdom of heaven.
In the Gospel this Sunday from Matthew 18: 15 - 20, Jesus provides some guidelines on how to deal with grievances tactfully, seeking reconciliation rather than punishment or retaliation. The object of this process is not to abuse, ridicule or humiliate our sisters and brothers in faith. Rather, the purpose is to bring them back into God’s loving community. In the Jerusalem Bible translation Jesus says “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves.” If that does not work, “take one or two others along with you.” Then, if that does not work, take the issue “to the community” and let the community decide how to handle the situation.
Too often, we are quick to judge others without knowing all the facts or we condemn the person rather than condemning the action. Ultimately, it is God who judges all of us. In his book, God and the World: A Conversation with Peter Seewald, Pope Benedict XVI, commenting on Matthew 18 said, "we should always recall that we are going to be judged and that we will be judged according to the standards that we ourselves have applied. In this way, it exhorts us to use a true standard, to keep a limit, to have a proper respect of others. Thus, Jesus gives us an inner standard for making those judgments that are indispensable. It consists of always recognizing these final limits of what God reserves to himself"(p. 287).
Our challenge in reacting to grievances no matter how hurtful is to respond with love. St. Paul tells us in Romans 13:10, “Love can cause no harm to your neighbor, and so love is the fulfillment of the law.” And in Colossians 3: 12 – 14 St. Paul says, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection."
O God, whose Word is life,
grant us a bold and faithful spirit,
that we may proclaim your truth in love.
Grant us a new heart
so that we can become people
whose law is love for one another
and whose peace and reconciliation is Jesus
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
