(Fr. Paweł Ratajczak, OMI, Sept. 10, 2023)
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HOMILY: SUNDAY, SEPT. 10, 2023
- Pastor's Blog
- Hits: 294
The words of this Sunday’s Gospel are concerned with very practical, and very sensitive situations. Our Lord Jesus speaks in the Gospel of the situations when we have to correct someone, when we have to point out someone’s fault, someone’s sin, someone’s wrongdoing. At the same time, St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans lessens the load somewhat by stating “Owe to no one anything, except to love one another.” Let us reflect today upon fraternal correction and the need to love, not to like. I would also like to offer a few thoughts about the beatification of the Ulma family, taking place in Poland.
Our Lord says to his disciples, that if anyone sins against them, they are to first point out the fault in an individual encounter; then, if the problem persists, they are to point out the fault in the presence of one or two witnesses; then, if the sin still goes on, they are to report the matter to the Church; and finally, if the sinner still does not repent, he is to be treated like a “Gentile and a tax collector.” The great St. Augustine, Father of the Church, comes to our help with his explanation: “Our Lord admonishes us not to overlook one another’s faults, yet not so as seeking for matter of blame, but watching that you may amend” (Catena aurea, vol. 1, pg. 517, 2014). In other words, we are not to turn a blind eye to faults, to the sins of the other. This is called the practice of fraternal correction, which is classified as an act of charity by the Catechism (CCC 1829). Now, to be honest, we should say that many times fraternal correction – the practice of pointing out a fault – is risky. It is risky because the person whom we are correcting may get offended, may get their feelings hurt, may get angry with us, may give us the silent treatment, or may even seek to get revenge on us. We may want to not say anything, just to keep a superficial peace. As St. Augustine explains, “For often we wrongly shun to teach and admonish…either because the task is irksome, or because we would escape their enmity” (Catena aurea, vol. 1, pg. 517, 2014). But as hard as it is, according to the Lord, we are to point out the fault: individually at first – not by splashing it on social media, but in an individual conversation. Then we can take a few witnesses with us – something that we may call “an intervention.” A still further step is to report it to the Church. Brothers and sisters, all pastors of souls have had situations when you are seriously at a loss, either because the conflict reported to you is so banal, so silly, or so grave, so serious: with hurts and wounds that have been accumulating over decades. It is the job of the Church to settle conflicts, as much as possible: but sometimes pastors of souls can say, along with the Lord Jesus – “friend, who made me judge or arbitrator over you?” (Luke 12:14). The last stage, if someone does not repent, is to treat that person as a “Gentile and a tax collector.” There is a separation from the community of faith, once that happens, something that can be even as serious as an official excommunication. Yet, once again, St. Augustine softens the judgement, “Though even thus we are not to neglect his salvation” (Catena aurea, vol.1, pg. 520, 2014).
At this point it is good to bring in the words of St. Paul from the second reading: “Owe to no one anything except to love one another.” Thankfully we are not commanded to like each other: the parish, the Christian community, even the family, is not about being continually liked. We are as Christians, commanded to love, commanded to exercise that agape love, the selfless love, the love that seeks the greatest good, that St. Paul speaks about. “Owe to no one anything except to love one another,” not like, but love.
In the Gospel, Our Lord speaks of one more element that I would like to mention: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Where there are gathered two or three, four or five, six or seven. The Ulma family is being beatified in the village of Markowa, in Poland. They are being declared as “blessed,” by the Church. Józef and his wife, Wiktoria, were martyred, together with their seven children, during the Second World War, for giving shelter and refuge to Jews. The Jews they gave refuge to in their home were killed along their side, in 1944, by Nazi-German military personnel. This is the first time that a married couple, along with seven children, is being beatified. What is also noteworthy is that one of the children being beatified, their youngest, was in the womb of Wiktoria, at the time of Wiktoria’s death, and was born only at the time of Wiktoria’s martyrdom. This family made the decision to risk their lives for Christ, by taking in Jewish people who needed shelter and refuge. They chose not to be indifferent to the suffering of others. Ultimately, this family gave their lives for Christ as one unit.
The commandment to love leads us to the practice of fraternal correction. May the example of the Ulma family inspire many families to a greater unity in faith, in charity, and perhaps even, to the witness of martyrdom.