RECONCILIATION METHOLOGY

 *Sunday September 10, 2023* 


23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME


First Reading. Ezekiel 33: 7-9

Psalm. 95: I-2, 6-9  (R. 7d, 8a)

Second Reading. Romans 13: 8-10

Gospel. Matthew18: 15-20


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


 *CORRECT AND RECONCILE WITH LOVE* 


Hello sweety, may I ask if you have ever come across a perfect, angelic person on earth who is without sin, tell me so I can rush to adore him/her


Or...

*** Is there any person who has never offended someone before? 

*** Is there any person who has never been offended by someone before?

I guess there is none because we are human and we are bound to offend and be offended.

This is what is called CONFLICT.


Below are some of the reasons I suppose do make us get offended by others, as we also offend them. 


1. CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL BACKGROUND: Our different cultural and traditional background settings can make us offend one another if there is no understanding. 

2. LIKES AND DISLIKES: What we like and dislike differs, what I like may discomfort you and vice versa. One man's meat is another man's poison.

3. DIFFERENCE IN LOVE: What I love may irritate another person. I may love noise, while another loves silence. Conflict begins.

4. DIFFERENCE IN TASTE, VALUES, DESIRE, GOAL, CONCEPT: What I value, you may not value; my taste may not be your taste; our dreams, goals and, concepts are all different; hence, all these make us offend one another.

5. EGO, SUPERIOR AND INFERIORITY COMPLEX: These are other factors that often get many angry and become offended.


It is on this note I want us to examine the first reading where the Lord told Ezekiel that if he refuses to tell the wicked to repent, and the wicked man dies, the blood of the man will be upon him. Meanwhile, if he told the wicked to repent, but refused to repent if he died, the blood would not be on Ezekiel.


Invariably, we should try to let the wicked know the implications of their evil deeds. More reason Jesus in today's Gospel proposes to us how perfectly we can reconcile with our neighbours. I call it RECONCILIATION METHODOLOGY.


If your brother offends you.....


1. Call him, discuss the issue together and settle it. If he listens, good, but if he does not listen, then go to no 2.

2. Call one or two members to join in the reconciliation meeting as witnesses to your effort to make a reconciliation with him and for the witnesses to talk to him. If he still refuses to listen to them, go to no 3.

3. Take the issue to the responsible church leaders, to your parish priest, for the final reconciliation, and if he still refuses to listen to the church, then treat such a person as a PAGAN.


At this point, you have made all effort of reconciliation to reconcile with him, yet he remains stubborn, and it is not as if you were the one who offended him, it was him who offended you. 

So, our God is neither blind nor deaf, he sees and hears even the heartbeat of us all, even before we speak.


At such a frantic effort of reconciliation and even involving the church, which is the Citadel of God on earth, and he still refuses to be converted, then be rest assured that God through His church has witnessed your effort. 


My dear, I want to let you know that to make a move for reconciliation is an act of LOVE. Love conquers all, and as St. Paul said in today's second reading, the whole commandments are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself". 


It's when one lives in love that a person can possess the following qualities that can aid fast reconciliation, and will also help one not to offend people anyhow.


1. ACCEPTABILITY: The ability to accept one another, irrespective of race, tribal, cultural and traditional diversities.

2. ADAPTABILITY: A situation where one will adopt and adapt the cultural values of the place one finds him/herself.

3. UNDERSTANDING: It's good to understand the cultural and traditional values of one another, for easy peaceful coexistence. 

4. RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S CONCEPT AND VALUES. Respect is reciprocal, if you respect other people's concepts and values, other people will respect yours too.

5. LOVE: As St. Paul said, Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.


So, in summary, let us correct and reconcile with and in love. He who loves lives in God, and such is an ambassador of God on earth.


Therefore, make a reconciliation today with that person you are not on good terms with.

Remember, Jesus did not say if you offend him, He says if he offends you. 


So, make peace, and your heart will be at peace.


 *Peace ✌️ be with you.* 


 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.*

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