Ezekiel 33:7 – 9/ Ps. 94:1-2,6-9/ Rom. 13:8-10/ Matt. 18:15-20

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, the vocation of the prophet, as envisioned in terms of his oracles, to judge the evil and the wicked ways of the Israelites and to dissuade them from this way of life . Ezekiel had the responsibility of announcing the judgment of God, not his own judgment, and so his inability to preach the message of God involved death for him, whereas his life will be saved if he was faithful to the message given to him to preach.

Ezekiel was appointed as a watchman to the House of Israel. He was being called to watch out for them and to warn them of danger. The danger wasn’t coming from without but from within. Some of the people were living in ways (thus, they often disobeyed God and disregarded His Law and commandments) that were undermining the stability of the community.

Beloved, this was not an easy task as most people don’t like being told they need to change their ways, even if the person doing so had their well-being and that of others at heart. Nevertheless, as Christians we are each called to be God’s prophet, God’s representative, to preach God’s word in order to retain the Christian faith and practice. Unfortunately, there many lapsed or lukewarm Catholics who could and would have been active members of Christ’s mystical body if we (Catholics) had fulfilled this grave obligation which Christ has imposed on us at our Baptism. I encourage us all to let our every word, action and deed inspire others around us, and help everyone to remain in love with God, and to be filled with the same love for our fellow brethren as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the best approach to this call is what is prescribed in our gospel reading. Thus, a call to be kind to one another and to help each other avoid the path of sin and evil, to be responsible for one another’s wellbeing, not just the physical wellbeing, but moral and spiritual wellbeing also. Saint Paul makes reference to this in the second reading as “debt we owe to each other”, the debt of mutual love. One of the ways to show this love for one another is by showing each other the best way and offering a helping hand. Sometimes this will mean correcting each other and allowing ourselves to be corrected by others too.

As members of God’s Church, we are reminded of our fraternal correction which should ordinarily be observed among us, that’s by avoiding to speak our brethren’s faults to others, till we have first spoken of them to themselves. In other words, it is better to talk to the individual directly. This will likely help them see and notice that, we are not only concerned about their salvation but their reputation as well and this can also lead to a more meaningful conflict resolution.

Beloved in Christ, Love for God and for neighbour is the foundation of the communitarian apostolate which is carried out by each of us through multiplicity of tasks. Let us therefore be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave us in Christ. So like Ezekiel let us try to watch out for others as the Lord works through each of us to touch the lives of others, to draw others to himself, but let’s do so in the awareness that we are far from being perfect ourselves.

 Ezekiel carried out this mission with Charity, therefore we must on our part be ready to give charitable and kind advise to an erring neighbour when and where necessary, for kindness will touch and soften even a hardened sinner’s heart for a metanoia.

May God grant us the grace of courage and humility to forgive, have a deep sincere love for one another to help us mend all broken relationships and to restore peace and unity.

Mass Intentions: Praying for comfort for those who feel abandoned, restoration for all broken relationship, those who suffer from chronic illness; may their illness never lead them to despair.