September 7, 2008: 23rd Sunday in OT, Cycle A

Today’s readings are all about living “blamelessly” on the earth, and we see from the outset that it’s next to hopeless! The prophet Ezekiel sees the problem: “I” may be avoiding some dangerous situation or behavior, but what if a friend is engaging in it, and I ignore it? How can I live with myself? The prophet senses he HAS to speak–for not to do so would be to consign a friend to awful pain that, with some help, he might have avoided. Jesus seems to touch on the same issues in the Gospel reading. The Church is not to be a “museum for saints,” but a hospital for sinners, and lots of folk are really floundering, when what they need is some direction. Christ says, “If he doesn’t heed you, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” Of course, that raises the question, “How should a Gentile or a tax collector be treated?” And Christ loved them! Dined with them. Made at least one a disciple. So...it’s not as “simple” a read as it first looked. For at the end of the day, we are called to “expand” our love, our circle of care. It’s in doing so that we “lift” ourselves and all humanity a little higher, which is why St Paul reminds the Romans that all duty to God and neighbor is summed up in loving care. This is the legacy we are asked to leave in our wake as we walk the earth--not a naive "blamelessness"--for who can live on the earth and not be somewhat sullied by it? But rather, the legacy we are to leave is a "care" for others that endures--through life's "thick and thin," through people's battles with their weaknesses. May we walk gently and love deeply and as broadly as Grace allows us!