Readings:
Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20
I
am Waiting For Judas!
1. Today’s
readings stress the need to correct one another in love. The world is so
polarized, and we tend to build walls of separation rather than bridges of love
and unity. Fr. John Pichapilly relates a story in his book, ‘Kindle Your
Spirit,’ that captures the substance of these readings. Once, there were two brothers. Their father
had a large farm, and when he became too old to work, he called his sons to him
and said, “I am too old to work anymore. I will divide my farm in half and give
each of you one half. I know that you will always work together and will be
good friends.” When the brothers first started farming on their adjoining
farms, they were best friends and shared everything. Then, one day, the
brothers argued and stopped speaking to one another. For many years, they did
not speak to each other.
2. One
day, one of the brothers was at his house when a carpenter came to his door and
said, “I would like to do some work. Do you have any work that I can do?” The
brother thought for a moment and then replied, “I would like for you to build a
fence on my property. Build it down near the stream there that separates my
farm from my brother’s. I don’t want to see my brother anymore, and I would
like you to build a high fence there, please. I’m going into town, and I’ll be
back this evening.
3. When
he came back that evening, he was shocked to see that the carpenter had not
followed his instructions. Instead of building a high fence there, he had built
a bridge over the stream. The man walked down to look at the bridge, and as he
did, his brother walked towards him from the other side. His brother said,
“After all the terrible things I’ve done to you over the years, I cannot
believe that you would build a bridge and welcome me back.” He reached out to
his brother and gave him a tight hug. The brother then walked back up to his
farmhouse to talk to the carpenter. “Can you stay?” he asked. “I have more work
for you to do.” The carpenter answered, “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay. I have to
go, because I have many other bridges to build.
4. Now
and then, we are confronted with conflicts in our families, in places of work,
in our church, and in our community. Our strength is not in falling, but in
getting up each time we fall. When faced with conflicts, we often build a fence
between ourselves and see others as enemies. We would stop talking to our
presumed enemies, avoid them, and close in on ourselves. We cannot run away
from people who hurt us. We must do what we can to achieve peace and correct
each other in love. This is what Christ wants us to do. Instead of a wall, we
must build a bridge of love between us.
5. Jesus
does not give up on anyone. And so, we must not give up on anyone. We must look for ways for reconciliation with
everyone we relate to. Christ did not give up on Peter, nor did he give up on
Judas, as this story demonstrates. The saved were partying in heaven. Missing
was Jesus. Peter found Him at Heaven’s gate and asked: “Master, why
are you standing outside?” He replied, “Peter, I’m waiting
for Judas.” If Christ won’t give up on Judas, should we give up on
people? We should extend our kindness even to those who hurt us. When we
forgive people, we do not do them a favor, but we set ourselves free to love.
Hence St. Paul tells us in the second reading to “Owe nothing to
anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled
the law.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen observed that “While it is
possible to win the argument, your anger may lose the war.”
6. Let
us pray, dear friends, that instead of building fences of hatred, we may build
bridges of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. May the Holy Spirit guide and
direct us so that we may learn to correct each other in love. Remember the admonitions
of Christ: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your
brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is
in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then
you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (Matt.
7:3-5). God bless you!
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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