Thoughts on Today’s Scripture Readings
Ezek 33:7-9 Ps 94 Rom 13:8-10 Matt 18:15-20
Ezekiel says the authority of religious leaders comes with a daunting responsibility – and penalty for getting it wrong. If religious leaders fail to instruct the people correctly, they will suffer the same fate as the sinners they have failed to guide wisely, just as God threatened Israel’s leaders during the exile for leading the people astray. After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC, Ezekiel promises hope for a future return to Jerusalem – but only if the people accept individual responsibility for sins and purify themselves of false gods.
Paul’s advice to the Romans on Christian living continues: obey secular authorities, whose authority comes from God, and pay the taxes and respect that is their due. Above all “love your neighbour as yourself”.
The first reading helps us to understand the Gospel. But the awesome authority of the Church to bind and loose on God’s behalf is put into context by the last verse of the Gospel reading. “Where two or three meet in Jesus’ name”, Jesus will be in their midst – and by implication he will be guiding their decision-making, so their decisions will be in tune with God’s will. The Church’s power to include or exclude individuals is not to be exercised carelessly, but only after due deliberation by the whole Christian community.
Psalm Response: O that today you would listen to his voice! “Harden not your hearts”.
MY HEART TO YOUR HEART by Father Bernadino
WEDDING RINGS SOLD FOR LOVE
It happened just a few hours ago. My eyes are still wet and my heart still bleeding. For the first time I saw this young couple inside the Chapel of the Hospital to attend my 12:00 o´clock Mass. He is 26 years old and she is 25. His mother attended Mass with them. After Mass they entered my office with a special request. They wanted me to bless their «Wedding Rings». They have been married for six years. As a normal couple they exchanged their wedding rings during the ceremony and were very happy with their marriage and with their wedding rings. This was six years ago.
After three years of a happy marriage both lost their jobs. No food, no medicine, no money no hope. But there was love and their wedding rings.They had a few pieces of gold – among them their wedding rings. What to do when there is not a glass of milk, a slice of bread, an egg? When there is not a spoon of rice, a slice of potato? When there is nothing to eat. Among other things this precious young couple decided to sell their wedding rings. It was the only way they had to buy food and survive.
It happened that his sister had an engagement ring. The relationship with her fiancée didn´t work. Both engagement rings were offered to her brother and her sister in law. They were golden rings. In my office this precious young couple exchanged their wedding rings «as a sign of their love and fidelity» with a special blessing of the church. Three years with their wedding rings. Three years without wedding rings. A life to share their commitment to love each other for better and for worse.
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