Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just get along? The answer of course is yes. The deeper question is why can’t we? We are all different and each of us is created for unique purposes. The rub arises when we think that we as individuals are more important than the parts we play within the larger body. We are but ; we need to recognize and accept our role within this body. The readings today are an exercise in contrast in dealing with people inside the body who are malevolent to the body existence.
In the reading from Ezekiel we hear an apocryphal approach to dealing with those who defile the communities’ holiest place, the temple. This story sets the scene for the final abandonment of Jerusalem and the exile of the remnant of Israel into Babylonian captivity. The Lord sent his messengers to walk among the people; the holy ones were to be marked with a “Thau”, a Hebrew letter that looks like a “x”. The ones who were marked were to be spared. The rest were to be struck down so their defilement would continue no longer. Further their blood would defile the temple so that it could no longer be used for worship by any faith. The scene is reminiscent of the angel of death whose wrath struck down the first born in Egypt. These deaths did in both cases have a similar purpose. They communicated God’s displeasure with slavery and the slavery of sin, more importantly they pointed to the power and glory of God.
In another way, the deaths purified the people of Israel. Thus their community was cleansed and prepared for the exile that was imminent. While this Old Testament process was grave, their community held together through times of severe trial. The survival of the Jewish community was a miracle considering all it withstood in these dark times.
Our community today still has many trials. Jesus gives us a process for dealing with the struggles that arise within our own community. The process, which deals with disagreements between people, suggests that it is started with a one on one conversation. The progressive steps follow until finally the person is treated as if they are an outsider to the community.
In both these readings the process was not so much to punish, although that happened, it was to strengthen and unify the community. Consider your own role in the communities to which you belong. With whom might you reconcile so as to strengthen the community? If reconciliation is impossible at this time, resolve to pray for the person(s) with whom you are not at ease. It is when we resolve our differences with process and prayer that we as community are authentically Church!
-Michael Montgomery