23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
OH, MY BROTHER… OH, MY SISTER…
MT. 18: 15-20
MESSAGE
Recently a lady told me that she could never think of her sister without getting teary-eyed; such was the love and deep bond between them. A man shared with me the emotional torment inflicted on him by his own brother who has harbored unimaginable hatred against him after a past argument.
The first reading encourages us to be concerned about our family members and to warn them of danger. The Gospel repeats the Lord Jesus’ words about courageously confronting a brother or sister about error. But how easy is it to set aright, or to convert the hearts of our own relatives? Often it is easier to be a guide to others outside the family than to shine a light on our own flesh and blood.
The family is our sturdiest pillar of support and encouragement. It can also be the source of our deepest wounds and pain. For some of us, the readings will be easy to heed because we are surrounded by open and receptive family members. For others, the readings will be an ordeal to implement or to even try.
If your experience is the latter, remember that the Lord does not expect us to perform a miracle on our own relatives. It is he who melts hearts, stir consciences, and enlightens understanding. The Lord is telling us not to give up when our own loved ones have hearts of stone, to continue reaching out in various ways, even just through prayer for the time being. Now it is prayer, then perhaps, later it will be dialogue. Now it is respectful distance, later a more open communication. The Lord will help us if our hearts agree with the Lord.
REFLECT
At times we do not see eye to eye with our own family members; that is a mystery in itself. Faith, however, emboldens us to continue trying to stretch our arms in love and goodness. If today, you cannot change a person’s heart, pray fervently for that one that the Lord may open the door one day.
