by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

Jesus has told us firmly that we must love God and our neighbor as well. It is also a firm teaching of gospel living that the love we show our neighbor is a sure indication of how much we truly love God. It is not that Jesus simply stated a great principle, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Chapter 18 of St. Matthew’s Gospel has Jesus go into detail about aspects of our conduct toward one another that are best we keep in mind.

But first, our Church uses a passage from Ezekiel to show how important with God is our relationship with sinful brothers and sisters. Of course, we are not spokespersons for God as was the prophet. But in our own way we must understand how displeased God is if we find ourselves in a position of friendship or close relationship and fail to help a sinful person. He expects that of us.

St. Paul offers further direction of care for one of our own Christian communities who has sinned. It is Paul who assures us that ‘one who loves another has fulfilled the law.’ He adds for each one of us, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of [God’s] law.” Love expressed on earth, love and care for the sinful too, is the key to know how much I truly love God.

Jesus himself offers further reflection on how we ought to deal with one who sins against us. Speak to your brother privately seeking to be reconciled. (You yourself take the first step). If that doesn’t work, take a witness or two along with you. If he still refuses, go public. “Tell the church,” says Jesus. Whatever you bind or loose on earth so it will be in heaven. Then he goes a step farther telling us to seek peace and harmony in our Church by praying together, for that kind of prayer will surely be answered, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” If Jesus is with us, who can be against us?

When we pray to honor the loving heart of Jesus, often we say, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.” In today’s readings we ask the Lord to soften our hearts so that we may belong to him. As the Psalm repeats,