Wednesday of 19th Week, Year II: reflection
Theme: Resolving issues from their roots
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Reading: Mt 18:15-20
It is a common knowledge that a doctor who doesn’t
understand his work treats symptoms of diseases instead of their underlying causes.
The best way to treat diseases has always been to tackle them from their root
causes. Jesus is asking us to do the same when there are issues in human
relationships.
When we notice a problem in our relationship
with others, what steps do we take to resolve it, especially when we feel the
other party is in the wrong? How do we react when others offend us?
What we have seen in the present world is that
people’s first reaction when offended is to take to their telephone and announce
it to the whole world, post it on the social media for media judges to give
their verdicts, and/or talk about it to anyone who cares to listen. Most times,
people’s first reaction when offended is to sever ties with their offenders by erecting
high walls and blocking all channels of communication between them and the
offenders; this happens even in marriages. In some other cases, people’s first
reaction is a physical attack on the offender.
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us that the
first step is to try to heal or resolve our issues from their roots by going to
the person who offended us to talk to him/her about it, and this is to be done
in a prudent manner. When we do this, we may discover that the person who
offended us is unaware that he/she actually offended us. This step also helps
us to hear from the offender and, possibly, know more about what led to the offensive
action.
May God give us the grace to approach those who
offended us or those who are still offending us to initiate a peace and
reconciliation process. Amen.
Fr Isaac C Chima
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