HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.
THEME: TALK IT OVER.
BY: FR GERALD M. MUSA.
The people we love most offend us more. How do you approach a friend, brother, sister, or neighbour who has offended you deeply with his words, remarks or actions? Do you pretend all is okay and continue to give a superficial smile when there is a cankerworm of anger eating deep into your soul? We can be so upset when we are offended and we react differently to different people and situations. Sormetimes we react by keeping silent.
At other times we keep complaining to people around about how we were offended. We tend to talk to everyone about the person or group that has offended us without summoning the courage to speak directly to the person concerned. Sometimes reconciliation takes extra effort, especially when one party refuses to cooperate or makes the process extremely difficult. The Gospel of Matthew provides some practical steps for reconciliation.
The Gospel recommends something different where the offended makes the first move towards reconciling with the offender. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). This means the person who is offended is to reach out to the offender. Today, we should make an effort to express our grudges by having honest and open conversations with those who have wounded us so badly. How well and wisely do we resolve and manage conflicts?
MATTHEW 18:15-20; WEDNESDAY, 19TH WEEK
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