SELECT HERE for the Audio recording of the Readings of
Sunday, September 6th, 2020, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, September 6th, 2020, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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Sunday, September 6th, 2020, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
 

Thus says the LORD:  
You, son of man, I have appointed you as a sentinel for the house of Israel;  when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.  If  you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, I will hold you responsible for his death.

What is the most recent thing you have done to ‘save’ someone else’s life? A thing that required you a heavy personal involvement or sacrifice, a thing that you ‘took on’ as a responsibility (away from the limelight) - you committed yourself to ‘deliver’ that person from a situation. You decided ‘to be involved’ to the end at whatever cost. And all this was not sentimental.
 
The salvation of a soul or the other is at the heart of this weekend’s reading.  The readings challenge the believer to ‘be involved’, to save others.  In the first readings, the Prophet Ezekiel is appointed watchman for the house of Israel. What does this mean?   On the hills of Palestine, watchmen (lookouts) had always been important (1 Samuel 14:16; 2 Kings 9:17), they kept the city safe at night and called out the safety of the city like a sentry.  The prophet, as the watchman of God, observed the impending doom of the nation as well and announced the danger to a sleeping and indifferent people, so that they can be saved.  The watchman saves his own life by being alert to the dangers of others.  He is to be involved in the dangers of others.
 
Let us for a moment step out of our own situations and think and transpose ourselves to the dangers of others. What dangers do you think people confront, families or individuals?  Here are some I think of: hunger, famine, poor education, low esteem, early death, inequality, addictions, poverty, spiritual desperation etc.  How might you take the plunge and be committed, be involved to save these other’s lives? Might your inaction fail them too?  We, the Christian and believer, are ‘watchmen’.  Will you turn away from this role and why?  
 
Our present day society or community has identical problems to Matthew’s community.  Not many ‘agree’ on anything at all or in common.  The society is always split among various camps and ways of thinking.  But belonging to a Christian community meant being involved.  In case of personal wrongs done, fraternal correction was encouraged.  You were to do this privately.  The purpose is not to humiliate others. Christian were to work hard to win or get others back, to forgive and reconcile.  The common good was a constant pursuit: ‘for where two or there are gathered in my name, I am in their midst’ (Matthew 18:20).  The responsibility of others (being involved) is the foundation of Christian living.
 
How can we work hard in today's society to cultivate the same attitudes and approach in today’s gospel? What fails us? Does your personal wrong/mistakes define your life? Should they for others? What is the status of forgiveness and reconciliation in society today?
 
Saint Paul brilliantly summarizes the Christian principle of living: ‘Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor’ (Roman 13:10). Our families, single lives, community life, personal lives must realize the message of Christian involvement.  We must let the message of the Eucharist permeate other dimensions of our daily living.
 
A Blessed Week in the Lord!
Fr. Anthony



View the below videos for other reflections on the readings.