Today we are invited to reflect on Jesus’ recommendations on how to recover one who failed or got lost. Jesus says, “Your Father in heaven doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.” It is up to the shepherd, of course, to search for the sheep that is lost, wounded and in risk of falling in a very deep and dark ravine. However, every Christian is a shepherd of his brother. No one can say like Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
The law of love requires a commitment to bring the brother on the right path; but how to proceed in such a delicate issue? There is a mistake that must be avoided: gossiping, spreading the news of the error. This is defamation. It serves only to marginalise one who did wrong, to humiliate him or her.
The truth about others spoken without any benefit is a gossip. The truth that does not produce love, but causes anxiety, creates dissension, hatred and resentment is better not spoken.
One cannot tell everything that is true or everything one knows. One must, above all, abstain from disclosing a truth to those who want to use it for evil.
Let’s see what Jesus suggests to “tell the truth” to a brother who is in danger of being lost. The path to follow is split up into three stages. First: one has to talk personally to the brother, person to person, face to face. Everything must be resolved in secret, to prevent someone from finding out what happened.
If this first attempt does not produce the desired result, the second step to take is to ask for help from one or two sensible and wise brothers of the community.
Never forget the goal: the recovery of the brother. One should never give the impression of cornering him or putting him in front of someone who looks for ways to convict. He must perceive that he is dealing with friends who want his good and willing to testify in front of the brothers of his good disposition.
The last stage is the recourse to the community. This can happen only when the sin committed risks to disturb the brothers and sisters, especially those who are weak in the faith. If so and the culprit does not want to amend, then he must be considered “as a heathen and as a publican.”
Taken literally, this recommendation squeals out of Jesus’ lips, who has just warned the disciples: “See that you do not despise any of these little ones” (v.10). How is it possible that “the friend of publicans and sinners” (Matthew 11:19) pronounce a very hard judgment?
The responsibility entrusted to the Church is great. She is called to authentically declare what thoughts, feelings and choices are in accordance with the Gospel and which one moves away from Christ. She does not cast out, condemn nor punish anyone but only helps one to become aware of the condition in which everyone stands in taking certain decisions.
To achieve this result one should be clear that the measures taken against him are dictated only by love, not by the desire to “separate him” from a community that considers herself perfect.
Father Fernando Armellini SCJ
Claretian Publications
bibleclaret.org
Translated by Father John Ledesma SDB
Abridged by Father Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
