Correcting, Forgiving and Winning Back Those Who Sin Against Us.

Homily for September 10, 2017

Once upon a time, the disciples of Jesus asked him to teach them how to pray. In the end, what Jesus taught them was not only the words they should use for prayer but the very meaning of prayer as asking God for only those things we ourselves are capable of giving others.

In teaching us to pray the “Our Father,” Jesus taught us to say: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Luke 11:4. Indeed, Jesus went further to warn us saying: “But, if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15.

My dear brothers and sisters, today, God wants us to search our minds and ask ourselves: “Is there a brother or sister or friend with whom I had a quarrel with or who has fallen from the faith and I have since stopped talking to?” If there is, then God wants you to know three things:

One: If that brother or sister dies in sin and you never made effort to correct him or her or tell him or her the truth or try to win them back from darkness to light, you are going to answer for it on the day of Judgement. This is what our first reading from the book of Ezekiel teaches us.

Two: Correcting others and forgiving them for trespassing against us is an expression of our Love for one another. Hence St. Paul would teach us in our second reading: “Owe no one anything, except to love one another… and love does no wrong to a neighbour.”

Three: There is a formula for correcting and winning back those who offend us or go astray from the light. This is what Jesus in our Gospel passage teaches us.

Jesus says, first of all we meet that brother or sister one on one, then if this fails, we are to go with one or two persons and when that fails, we are to report the matter to the church. It is quite sad that when people offend us, others get to hear it even before we have the courage to face them one on one. Many quarrels last because we don’t follow this special formula Jesus has given.

Indeed, one fact that is so clear from the above is that we must make EFFORT to correct those who go astray. We cannot afford to say: “It is not my business.” If we all keep quiet while we allow evil go on, it means we have become part of the evil and for that God will punish us alongside those who commit evil.

John the Baptist could have kept quiet when Herod committed adultery by marrying his brother’s wife but he spoke up, he spoke the truth. Even though he was killed for the truth, God would have held him accountable if he refused to speak up for the truth. They say, “Evil people triumph when good people are silent.”

If you know something, say something. Let us start blowing whistles, let us speak up, dear friends, let us take up our Prophetic role imparted upon us on the day of our baptism when we were anointed with the oil of Chrism. Being a prophet is not only about opening church or doing crusade, it is about being able to tell people the truth!

Again, when people offend us, keeping malice is not a solution. When we keep malice, we actually create a fertile ground in our hearts for the devil to fill us with all kinds of hatred, pain and dejection. The more we keep the person quiet, the more our hatred increases and before you know it, we start broadcasting the person everywhere negatively.

As long as there is somebody you hate, you are still in darkness. St. John teaches us:
“Whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.” 1 John 2:11. In fact, St. John would further add that: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20.

My brother, my sister, who is that person that you hate? That person you have not seen for many years now or do not want to see anymore. Stop deceiving yourself thinking you are worshiping God if you carry hatred in your heart. (Read Mt.5:23) Do not let this day pass with hatred still in your heart. Change. Tell someone this day: “I forgive you.”

Finally, enough of the Gospel of Prosperity, time has come for us to start winning back hearts for Christ by preaching the truth, mentioning people’s sins to their faces and calling strong hearts to repentance.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me that loving my neighbour means correcting, forgiving and winning them back to you. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. Bible Study: Ezekiel 33:7-9, Romans 12:8-10 and Matthew 18:15-20).