“The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely…so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.” Luke 6:7
The readings today definitely double down, not on the “sinners” but on the “believers!” I got a text last night from a brother after reading yesterday’s reflection. All it said was, “That’s a gut punch. 100% true though.” I want you all to know that these reflections are FOR ME as much as they are for the reader, so please don’t think I sit on some high horse. I can’t even afford a horse and if you ever saw me on a horse at Mardi Gras, you know i don’t even sit on one well. Alright, enough disclaimer, let’s dive in.
I don’t think I ever sit around waiting for people to fail, because that would just be unchristian, right? Buuuut my vision can become laser focused, watching every little move so that at the slightest hint of indiscretion I can jump up and say, “SEE! I told you they were fake. They were just all about themselves. Their intentions were never good. SEE, I told y’all!”
I can spend an inordinate amount of time on such self-serving activities, and social media has become a weapon we use as our proof and evidence. All the while I’m doing investigative work trying to PROVE someone is breaking the “rules,” brothers and sisters I actually love are struggling with serious sin while I stand around saying and doing nothing. I may not be condoning or outright supporting their behavior, but I sure as heck am not saying anything to them either. THEY KNOW and I KNOW that what they’re doing is seriously damaging their relationship with God, and yet we smile, shake hands, hug after church and go about our merry ole way because, well…it’s none of my business, right?
Here’s the problem.
Yesterday’s first reading at Mass, Ezekiel 33:7-9, says sometimes it IS our business. We have a responsibility to warn one another. Then yesterday’s Gospel, Matthew 18:15-20, tells us HOW: start with the person directly. Not Facebook. Not the group text. Not three other people who “need to know.” THEM. If they won’t listen, bring one or two others to gang up on them—just kidding—but because sometimes we need brothers and sisters who love us enough to challenge us. And when something becomes serious enough that we don’t know what to do, that’s when the wisdom and guidance of the Church and our priests can help us.
Then today St. Paul holds the Corinthians’ feet to the fire over one of their brothers openly living in serious sin with his own stepmother. That’s some reality TV stuff right there. But Paul doesn’t spend much time proving the man’s behavior is wrong. It’s SO OBVIOUS there’s almost no need to discuss it. Instead, Paul turns to the community:
“Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?” 1 Corinthians 5:6
In other words: You’re over here talking about all the great things you’re doing while something is seriously wrong in your own community. It only takes a little yeast to affect the whole loaf. Sin doesn’t just hurt one person. It spills over into marriages, families, friendships and communities. Paul isn’t telling us to become the morality police, running around looking for everybody else’s sins. He’s telling us not to pretend serious sin doesn’t matter when it’s standing right in front of us.
And THAT brings us to today’s Gospel.
“The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely…so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.” Luke 6:7
They were WATCHING. But so was the watchman in Ezekiel. There’s a difference. One watches because he has been entrusted with the people around him. The others watch because they want to ACCUSE.
And THAT’S me sometimes.
Watching and waiting to catch somebody. Trying to figure out who they REALLY are, what their REAL motives are, waiting for that moment when I can finally say, “SEE! I knew it!” Meanwhile, somebody I actually love may be struggling right in front of me and I’m afraid to say, “Brother, I love you, but I’m worried about you.”
Maybe the question isn’t whether we’re supposed to watch out for one another. Maybe the question is WHY we’re watching.
Am I watching for your failure because being RIGHT feels good?
Or am I watching over you because losing you to sin would break my heart?
Jesus puts the man with the shriveled hand right in front of the Pharisees. Almost like He’s saying: LOOK AT HIM. Is THIS really what you’re worried about? Is THIS what you’ve been spending all your time and energy trying to catch Me doing?
We can all do better. Let’s stay laser focused on what really matters: rooting out the sin in OUR own lives while loving the people around us enough not to ignore theirs.
Not because we want to CATCH them.
Because we don’t want to LOSE them.
I love you, you are not alone! Call if you need.
