[Spiritual Thought] The Prerequisites for Community

The Mystery of God’s Mercy In the first half of the 1980s, a theologian spent considerable time working on his doctoral dissertation. His advisor was Father Francis Martin, an internationally renowned biblical scholar and leader of the Charismatic Renewal movement. He was very patient with him during the review, editing, and correction of his work. Every time he pointed out a weakness in the dissertation, he made sure to encourage him more than criticize his writing. One of Father Francis's favorite lines to start his critique was four simple words: “Does it seem to you?” This was his way of saying that he thought there was a mistake in a particular statement. Then he would explain how it could be improved. He never forced him to change anything, instead helping him think more deeply about what he had written. These words sometimes gave him a headache, but he always knew that Father Francis cared for him and wanted only the best for him. God Is Love Father Francis revealed something to him that Apostle Paul wrote in one of the most touching passages of Scripture: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not arrogant, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). He knew that Father Francis loved him and wanted only the best for him. Just as Father Francis treated him, Apostle Paul wished the Corinthians to treat each other in this way. The love referred to here was not merely human affection, but Christ-like love. Both Apostle Paul and Father Francis understood that Jesus' love should be the foundation of our lives. An Infinite River of Love We know that God is perfect. All His words and actions are flawless and entirely good. We also know that He has a perfect plan for our lives: He created us so we can have a loving relationship with Him and with each other. There is no better option than living in a loving embrace with Him. Nothing else can give us greater joy or fulfillment. In light of God's perfect love and plan, we can understand our sin. Imagine God's love as a miraculous river flowing from heaven into our hearts. Now imagine building a dam to stop that river. That often happens because of sin. It can prevent us from receiving that life-giving water of divine love. Or perhaps the river only trickles down, giving us just a drop of His love. Ultimately, we rely on our strength instead of trusting that God loves us enough to give us His grace and power. Day by day, through lifestyle choices and decisions, we determine how much of God's perfect and infinite love will flood over us. But no matter how strong the dam, our sins never convince God to turn away from us or stop showering us with His love. We are the ones who close ourselves off from the river of His love. And we are the ones who can restore its flow through repentance. Day by day, through lifestyle choices and decisions, we determine how much of God's perfect and infinite love will flood over us and touch those around us. Mercy Celebrates Victory Over Judgment It is astonishing to consider how much freedom God has given us. The gift of free will allows us to become the greatest saints or the greatest sinners. But even though God respects our free will, He will never abandon us for our sins. God is holy and perfectly just, and we answer for all the sins we commit. We will answer for every opportunity we had to show love to Him or our neighbor. Amid all this talk of sin and judgment, we might wonder: What does it mean that God is love? This question leads us to the foot of the cross. There, God reveals the depth of His love and the promise of mercy. There, Conditions for the Existence of Community Today’s Gospel speaks about how Jesus’ disciples should live in a community based on responsibility, care for the weak, and mutual forgiveness. Jesus reminds us that the worsening of “the small ones” can seriously threaten their faith and thus the life of the community. When sin or conflict arises, the Gospel suggests a gradual resolution: first a private conversation, then involving witnesses, and finally the community. Binding and loosing indicate the need for order, responsibility, and rules, while prayer accompanies the effort for reconciliation. The fundamental condition for the existence of any community is readiness for constant, unconditional forgiveness. The Brother Who Sins (Lk 17:3) “If your brother sins, go and tell him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. If he does not listen, take along one or two others so that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Commentary: Conditions for the Existence of Community This passage from today’s Gospel is a brief excerpt from a chapter in which Matthew talks about how a disciple of Jesus should behave within the Christian community. The chapter begins with the question of who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; it continues with temptations leading to sin against the weak. Following is the story of the lost sheep, which is quite well known; after that comes today’s passage about warning one’s neighbor. The chapter ends with a call to communal prayer and the story of the servant who did not want to forgive. Two weeks ago, we read about Peter’s confession of faith and how Jesus names him the Rock, as well as the authority to bind and loose on earth, which will be binding and loosing in heaven. The comparison of entry into God’s kingdom with a child at the beginning of the eighteenth chapter wants to remind us that a child is a trustworthy being. Trust in God the Father is the condition for entering His kingdom. In Jewish culture and elsewhere, children were under the service of adults, available to them. God’s kingdom is not for those who see themselves as important, great, all-powerful, filled with themselves, and who don’t think of serving anyone except themselves. Trust in God the Father is the condition for entering His kingdom. Alongside the word child, the word little is used; these are the people Jesus pays special attention to. With this designation, people who have just entered the community, who have not yet been fully included in it, and who are still preparing to enter the Christian community are meant. Anyone whose behavior worsens those who have just begun to believe in Jesus deserves to have a millstone hung around their neck. Scandals have always existed, both in the world and in the Church, and people who lack firm faith, who are just beginning their journey of faith, are these “little” ones, whom such worsening can drive away from their path of seeking. Community, The Church is responsible for these people, cares for them appropriately, hence the repeated mention of binding and loosing. Jesus wanted to lay the foundations of the Church, the community of His disciples. He did not want only a spiritual movement without organization, structure, and institution. Some interpreters of Sacred Scripture believe that Matthew’s Gospel is the Gospel of the Church. Matthew strongly recognizes Jesus’ historical presence. In His name, believers gather, so such a community must have defined internal relations and also relationships with the outside world. One of the basic principles is that we forgive and care for the weakest, the little ones. One of the basic principles is that we forgive and care for the weakest, the little ones. Because different situations and deviations arise in every community, including the Church, Matthew the Evangelist proposes a method, steps, with the help of which the sinful state of an individual and thus the worsening in the community, especially those approaching and wishing to join it, should be resolved. Sin Is Never Just a Private Matter On the 23rd Sunday of the year, we will listen to Jesus in the Gospel passage speaking about fraternal admonition, one of the hardest forms of love. Jure Sojč reflects on the purpose of admonishment and concludes that sin “is never just a private matter.” A video for the youngest was prepared by s. Ema Alič. First reading: The prophet is responsible for sinners, Ezekiel 33:7–9; Psalm 95; second reading: Love fulfills the law, Romans 13:8–10 From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 18:15–20) At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him privately. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. If he does not listen, take along one or two others so that every charge may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. I also tell you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Video explanation for children Rescuing the Brother W