Seek Better Relationship with God and Your Neighbor

09-10-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

According to William Barclay, today’s gospel passage is one of the most difficult passages to interpret in the whole of Matthew’s gospel. Part of the reason may be because it has to do with open and social confrontations and many cultures try, as much as possible, to avoid confrontation. The first message Jesus teaches us in this gospel is that we should not delay in reconciling with any person we have issues with. If anyone has anything against you, spare no effort to get things right again between the two of you. Basically, it means that we must never tolerate any situation in which there is a breach of personal relationship between us and another member of the church. If anyone offends us there is only one way to settle it, face to face talk. Not talking over your broken relationship is very dangerous and can destroy your peace of heart.

The second stage of talking, bringing a wise person or witnesses is not meant to prove to that person that he has committed an offense. It is meant to help the process of reconciliation. Most often people who have had serious issues of relationship in the past find it hard to come to an agreement. Jesus is saying that to talk such matters over in the presence of some wise, kind and gracious people is to create a new atmosphere in which there is at least a chance that we should see ourselves “as others see us”.

Then we come to the last and most difficult part. Matthew says even if that fails and fails, then treat that person or regard him or her as a Gentile or tax collector. The first impression we get is that the person concerned must be abandoned as a hopeless case and irreclaimable but that is not what Jesus is saying. What was His attitude towards tax collectors and Gentiles? If we look at the life of Jesus, each time He encounters tax collectors and Gentiles, He always speaks to them with sympathy, love and gentleness. What Jesus is saying is this; when you have done all these things and the person is still stubborn and obstinate, you may think that you have given the sinner every chance and you think that they are no better than tax collectors and Gentiles. Be kind to them and love them. Do not see their case as hopeless. Jesus is saying my experience of them is they too, have a heart to be touched, and there are many of them like Matthew and Zacchaeus who have become my best friends.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.