FRATERNAL CORRECTION - By: Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

In the Bible, we sometimes come across passages that are as relevant and practical in our lives today as they were thousands of years ago when they were first written. Today’s readings (Matthew 18:15-20) are good examples of such passages. They remind us that, as faithful Christians, it is our responsibility to reach out to our not-so-faithful brothers and sisters and bring them back into the fold. They even recommend practical steps on how to go about doing this.

       Broken relationships are common everywhere. Gossiping, telling the sins and faults of others behind their backs, is even more common. It is obvious that this destroys relationships. Jesus knows this only too well and so tells us what to do when we see somebody making mistakes — to confront the wrongdoer in an open and face-to-face dialogue.

       I know that is not part of the Philippine culture. In Europe, this is common and it is not taken personally, while here, every word that sounds critical is taken personally. And yet, we cannot say, “Lord, sorry, what You teach us today does not apply in our culture.”

       Some people correct others because they are busybodies. Others, like the Pharisees, do so in order to exalt themselves as they put others down. The disciple, however, intervenes out of love — love for God and His children, but especially for the sinner who is damaged the most by his own sin.

       “But,” you may say, “they won’t listen, so why bother?” Simple —because God says so!

         In baptism and confirmation, you were anointed priest, prophet and king; you share in Christ’s priestly, royal and prophetic roles. It is easy and pleasant to participate in Christ’s priesthood and royalty, but we tend to avoid the prophetic role. The bottom line is, we owe a debt of love to our brothers and sisters, as St. Paul writes in today’s Second Reading (Romans 13:8-10). If we proceed in a spirit of love, with God’s help we have a good chance of bringing back a child of His gone astray. It is well worth trying.

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you correct others? And if you do, what is your motive — pride or love?

GOSPEL READING TODAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 - MATTHEW 18:15-20

Matthew 18:15-20

15 Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. 16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

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PANGAKO SA LIKOD NG PANANAGUTAN

Ika-23 Linggo ng Taon A - MATEO 18:21-25
Setyembre 7, 2014

PANGAKO SA LIKOD NG PANANAGUTAN - Homily of Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

Matindi ang panagimpan o adhikain ng ASEAN, na binubuo ng 10 bansa sa Timog Silangang Asia – ang pangarap ng isang nagkakaisa at nagmamalasakit na region, na magiging ganap nang katotohanan simula sa 2015 – ang ASEAN Economic Community o AEC.

Nagkatuig na ang pangarap ng ASEAN ay siyang pananagutang iniaatang sa balikat natin ng tatlong pagbasa sa Linggong ito. Pangaral ni Ezekiel na tayo ay itinuturing ng Diyos bilang “bantay ng Israel” – mga taong may pananagutan sa kapwa. Pangaral din ni Pablo sa ikalawang pagbasa ang dapat gawin ng taong may pagmamalasakit sa kapwa – ang hindi pagkakaroon ng sagutin kaninuman, “liban sa saguting tayo’y mag-ibigan; sapagka’t ang umiibig sa kapwa ay nakatutupad sa kautusan.”

Subali’t ang pinakamatindi ay ito … ang pananagutang handang magtiis sa pagkakamali ng kapwa at sa pagpapasensya na nauuwi sa pagtatama sa gawang mali at sa pagsunod sa tamang paraan ng paglilitis sa nagkamali: “Kung hindi siya making sa iyo, magsama ka pa ng isa o dalawang tao upang ang lahat ng pinag-usapan ninyo ay mapatunayan ng dalawa o tatlong saksi.”

Mahirap ngayon ang maging responsable para sa ibang tao. Uso ngayon ang laglagan. Ang mga dating nagsisipalakpakan sa kapalpakan ng dating Presidente ay ngayon ay silang nagpapalakpakan sa bagong dispensasyon. Inilaglag na nila ang wala na sa poder at sinuportahan ang bagong may kakayahang magpabuya sa kanila.

Mahirap ngayon ang magsilbing tagapagtanggol o bantay ng kapwa. Pag napuruhan ka, ay ikaw pa ang masama. Ikaw na ang tumulong ay ikaw pa ang mananagot kung pumalpak. Ilang pagkakataon na may nabundol sa gitna ng daan at wala ni isa man ang tumigil upang tumulong, kahit sa ating bansa!

Mahirap ang magparangya at magpatawad, lalu na’t ang pinatawad mo ay siya pang patuloy na gumagawa ng lahat para mapasama ka. Mahirap ang magsikap magtama sa mali sa ating panahon, kung kailan ang tama ay nagiging mali at ang mali ay nagiging tama. Salamat sa showbiz, ang Simbahan ay nagmumukhang makaluma dahil sa pagtuturo ng tama, at ang mga pakawala ng palsong propeta ang siyang pinakikinggan at hinahangaan.

Mahirap ang paghamon, nguni’t hindi imposible. Matindi ang paghamon, subali’t hindi nangangahulugang wala nang pagkakataong maikalat at maipahayag. Tunay ngang mahirap pero hindi imposible. At paano ito nagiging posible?

Ang panagimpan at pananagutan ay may haliging matibay na kinasasandalan – ang pangako na “kung saan may dalawa o tatlong nagkakatipon dahil sa akin, naroon akong kasama nila.” Ito ang pangakong hindi dapat natin kalimutan!