Sunday Gospel Comment

 

Alberic Jacovone OSB

Return to Articles and Reflections

YEAR A

Ezek 33,7-9; Rom 13,8-10; Mt 18,15-20

Beloved "Little Ones" 

Cherished, welcomed, forgiven. Chapter 18 of Matthew’s Gospel has an uncanny mind-set to help us discover who we are in the Church, as we live, move and relate to God & one another. Of all the Bible, only in Matthew and only twice, we find the special, technical term by which God’s Christian community is established: it’s EKKLESIA, the ‘assembly’ of people who, with the Risen-Lord, forms God’s household. EKKLESIA gets its nuance from the Old Testament Book of "Ecclesiastes". The word itself translates the Hebrew ‘Qoheleth’, (meaning to convoke, to assemble, to be gathered). In this Book, someone presents -as in a ‘walking assembly’- an array of wise sayings & collected proverbs, thus uncovering hidden insights into God’s wisdom, in total opposition to traditional or school wisdom. ‘EKKLESIA’ is then translated as a gathering together of people, who keep an ear, in readiness to grasp something worthwhile, and gain hidden insights into God’s wisdom, against which any other knowledge amounts to nothing. (Eccl. 1,2: ‘Ultimate absurdity (vanity), says Ecclesiastes, indeed ultimate absurdity (vanity) is this: all is vanity’....). Matthew has a high regard for the New Community formed by Jesus: we call it Church. After the Jewish Revolt of year 70, Christians got expelled from the Jewish Synagogue, but this sad parting of ways sharpened the Church’s unique identity, its life & order, its awareness of being is a multi-cultural community, opening its arms to cherish, welcome & forgive all races, both Jews & Gentiles.

The Father’s ‘Little Ones’: It is unfortunate that we Catholics, concentrate on the Vatican, as a legal & political power: we are quick to say that Jesus wanted his Church to be forever structured, as a monarchical & hierarchical society under St Peter, and this is what we are. We quote Jesus’ words in Mt 16,18: ‘You are Kefa (which means rock}& on this kefa-rock I will build my Community (EKKLESIA)’. While this is true, Matthew wishes us to discover the amazing reality that we are as a Church community: among us lives Jesus, as our Risen Lord. He is at home with us, his own brothers & sisters. We are cherished ‘Little Ones’ of the eternal Father... At the same time, Matthew is aware that trials & conflicts, scandals & sufferings will always be part of life: so he urges everyone to treat one another as beloved ‘Little Ones’ of our heavenly Father. As such, we are weak & vulnerable, but woe to those who create scandals in the assembly. Sadly, we will always experience deep divisions from within, and face grave accusations from outside: still our heavenly Father knows this and hurts with us!... Notice how often the word ‘Father’ occurs in this chapter 18; and how ‘softly’ his caring concern is depicted. Yes, says Matthew, we are beloved children in God’s household - members of his family - brothers & sisters of Jesus - sharing a life of deep intimacy with God & one another. In the Church, we are cherished, loved and forgiven. Let no one feel ‘greater or greatest’; have rather the child-like trust of a ‘Little One’ (‘tapeinos’, a word for humility). And since arrogance blinds us to God & one another, we should welcome each other as God’s beloved ‘Little Ones’. Our God seeks out the lost & brings them home on his shoulders. So, let’s beware, lest we despise God’s merciful concern for ‘Little Ones’... Only out of this awareness the delicate task of fraternal correction is treated. Matthew invites us all to adopt: pray, stay humble & work towards forgiveness: Pastoral Council with pastoral concern.

______________________________________