LOVE CANNOT HURT YOUR NEIGHBOUR

XXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 18:15-20

Whenever a person, a community or a nation incurs in debt into debt, they put their well-being and even their future at risk. Thus, it is not surprising that Paul advises the Romans saying: “Avoid getting into debt” (Ro 13:8). Nowadays, there are many nations that borrow without caring about the future, making the life of their citizens very hard. We must learn to live with what we have or can produce.

However, there is a debt that cannot be avoided and that we should try to pay in full - the debt of “mutual love”. The commandment is very clear: “You must love your neighbour as yourself”. By keeping this commandment, we keep all the commandments. Indeed, “If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations” and “love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Ro 13:8,10) The mutual love that Paul speaks about is not a feeling or an emotion. Mutual love implies a commitment to the well-being of the other, because “Love does no wrong to a neighbour”. Love leads us to care for the salvation of our neighbours, the ones who cross paths with us. This care for the salvation of others must motivate us to announce the Good News, give witness to Jesus Christ and call to repentance and conversion. If we truly care for others, we must challenge and confront them whenever we notice that they are going astray. 

The prophet Ezekiel was called and entrusted with the mission of warning people, proclaiming faithfully the word of God. There is always the danger of becoming accommodating. Nowadays, with the individualism prevalent in our society, we may be told to mind your own business. And we keep silent as if we saw nothing wrong. Afraid of hurting the feelings of others, we put up with a lot of nonsense. The words addressed to Ezekiel apply to us as well: if “you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” (Ez 33:7-9).

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus tells us of our duty to call out our brother who has strayed from the straight path. If he does not listen, then we should try again. If he persists, then we should inform the leaders of the community, who are given authority to deal with grave cases.

Finally, Jesus assures us of his presence, whenever we gather in his name. The Christian faith is to be lived in communion with the other disciples. It is not a private thing. By accepting Jesus as the Christ, we enter the community of his disciples. My salvation depends on the salvation of the others and vice-versa.