Homily for Tuesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time - Year II

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/090908.shtml

Mary, Queen of Vocations, pray for us!
St. Peter Claver, pray for us!

We were reminded in the Sunday Gospel for this past week that Jesus is more present to his disciples when they are gathered 'together' in His name. What is more, if two or more disciples agree on anything whatsoever for which they are to pray, it will be granted to them by their Father in heaven (Mt 18:15-20). St. Paul too in his admonishment of the Corinthians in today's first reading reminds them that preserving the special unity given them by the Lord Jesus is essential, so essential in fact that one should at least consider enduring injustice or letting oneself be cheated rather than creating the scandal inevitable when one Christian takes another Christian to court. Paul in saying this is not saying that being just to one another is secondary to preserving an artificial or superficial unity among Christians, but in this particular passage he is emphasizing the importance of giving a credible witness to the sanctification and justification that is Christ's gift to His disciples. How will people believe in the grace of Christ, Paul is saying, if they see you failing to forgive each other and unable to reconcile differences? At another time, Paul would be more than ready to confront the disciples for any injustices that exist among them, but for this brief passage at least, Paul is reminding the disciples of the great responsibility they have to give other people a chance to believe in Christ based on how they see Christians acting differently. This timeless admonition of Paul's is one we need so desperately today, for it is all too obvious that the example of one bad Christian can give excuse to any person who is looking for reasons not to believe. The endless fractioning of Christianity is another deterrent to nonbelievers, for the more divided Christians are, the less visible Christ becomes. Sins against unity, then, and sins that create scandal, should be recognized for the great harm they really do cause.