07/09/2008 - 23th. Sunday Ordinary
Time - Year A
Ist Reading Ez 33,7-9 Psalm 94 2nd Reading Rom 13,8-10 Gospel Mt 18,15-20
"And proceeds from the Father and the Son" We proclaim this affirmation
as a great truth that strengthens and enlightens our life, as all the other
truths that we hold in the Smybol of our Faith. What does it mean to us when
we say these words? If the Holy Spirit 'proceeds from the Father and the Son',
it means that he, by coming in us, fills us with the loving caracteristics of
the Father and of the Son! The love of the Father is a love that comes, that
takes the initiative, a love that comits itself to give life when life does
not yet exists. This love is that love that gives us the power to forgive, to
love even those who would not want to greet us, to those who are not able to
love, even to those who even want to curse us! Parents love their children before
even these thank them. So is with those who receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit
of the Father. He loves all those who wont love him, without pretensions and
without waiting anything in return. Jesus himself tells us that if someone hits
us on one check, we are to give the other, continue to smell back at those who
express signs of hatred. Is it possible? Yes, it is possible with those who
received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that comes from the Father. A Father always
loves his son even when this one turns against him. The Spirit of the Father
loves always, without doing any distinction between 'good and bad'. This Spirit
of the Father is sent because of the Son, Jesus, hence he introduces in us also
the loving characteristics of the Son! Which are these? The Son loves the Father
in listening and obeying the Father! The Son answers to the initiatives proposed
by other and offers himself to help for their realisation. The Son knows and
wants to help. The Holy Spirit makes us servants of all, last of all, as Jesus
has showed us by his example and by his words he taught us. Coming from the
Father and the Son, the Spirit make us prudent fathers and attentive brothers
and sons ready to meet the needs of others whether we meet them occasionally
or evey day in our own homes. It is important therefore to affirm of the Holy
Spirit who "proceed from the Father and the Son". Hence we remeber
the that we have received the power to be for one another fathers and sons,
and the possibility to share with one another that love that is creative and
that love which is able to welcome them, a love that loves and a love that accepts
to be loved!
Let us listen to st. Paul. He didnt know personally Jesus, but has received
his Spirit and therefore his teachings are perfectly in line with those of Jesus
himself to his disciples. The apostle speaks of one another's love that need
to reign among the christians. This love is a debt we can never ransom because
it is a debt we have with God. He loved us so much that with all the love we
give to all those around us, we wont be able to pay him back. Loving your neighbour,
that is, loving every person, is the fulfillment of the Law: God gave each of
his comandments as instructions to live the various aspects of love. Not to
commit adultery is an aspect of true love, faithful love. So is with not to
kill and not to steal are there to help us respect and value life, which is
God's gift. Not desiring is a comand that doesnt limit the joy, but help us
to avoid a lot of sufferings to self and to others. Even in Paul's days men
and women thought that to love means to satisfy one self emotions and self illusions.
But the apostle says that: "that love does not harm the other": we
want to tell the married persons that abbonden their partner and children to
start "loving" the other person! These harm greatly the others, and
they call it "love"!
We are bound to say it: that's what Ezechiel, the prophet, tells us! Then Jesus
teaches us as "how" to say it to the brother who is causing the harm,
because its a source of pain and suffering. He teaches us to be careful and
kind. If we say something to someone to help him correct himself and realise
what he is doing, we need to do it gently but firmly. If we are not able to
do on our own, we ask someone who can help us do it. If the one who harms other
want to remain in his mistake, the whole of the comunity needs to help him,
up to the point of excluding him from their comunion, until he realises the
seriousness of his situation, and wont carry others with him in his errors.
The decisions of the christian comunity are important, because God himself holds
them important and decisive: he himself approves and proclaims them! He gave
his Spirit to the Church to guide her in all ways! Why all this attention from
God to the comunity of disciples of Jesus? He himself is present where ever
two or three are gathered in his name! God listens to Jesus, and therefore he
listens and answer all those who are united together in the name of Jesus! What
does it mean to be united in the name of Jesus? Certainly, it means that one
doesnt has any other interest except that of Jesus himself, that is, the glorification
of the Father, of being the saviour of all, and of making us collaborators with
him to free the world from the influence of the devil and give it that light
and peace that can come only from him who is raised from the dead! Thanks to
him, true, faithful, humble and joyous love can reign among men and women of
all times.