Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Title

The Difference between Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Outline

In a world there is rarely true reconciliation

I can say that something felt wrong to me

I can say that something violated the social consensus

And you can still say, “I do not see it that way according to my truth”

The best I or others can do is enforce the social consensus by force or offer you a better good in your eyes so that you compromise

Our scriptures speak differently, for reconciliation can only happen by agreeing to God’s/Jesus’ truth

While forgiveness is handing over an issue to God, reconciliation is agreeing on the same reality and repenting where we have failed

The first step is private sharing, which allows the other to explain, if it is a misunderstanding

The second step brings in community leaders, who can present the position of the Church on such matters and help the two come to a similar view on the reality of the situation.

The third step is that the intransigent person is appealed to by the Church and, if he or she refuses to hear the voice of the Church, they are treated as non-member. This is what Paul calls for in 1 Cor 5 and a process he refers to in 2 Corinthians.

Finally, Jesus gives the basis for this end process: the apostles and through them the Church as a body is given authority for “binding and loosing” that God himself ratifies.

What does that mean for us?

Christians realize that the resurrected Jesus is the basis of reality, including right and wrong, so we need to learn and do his teaching

Forgiveness and reconciliation are important, but we may need help with reconciliation.

Finally, we need to realize that leaving conformity to Jesus means leaving the faith - we can hope that our care and God’s action will bring the person back, just as in the case of anyone outside the Church - but we are not loving if we live pretending that someone is in harmony with Jesus who in reality is not.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-16-2023: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 34:1–12

CHAPTER 34

1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah which faces Jericho, and the LORD showed him all the land—Gilead, and as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the Negeb, the plain (the valley of Jericho, the City of Palms), and as far as Zoar. 4 The LORD then said to him, This is the land about which I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “I will give it to your descendants.” I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not cross over. 5 So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said; 6 and he was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; to this day no one knows the place of his burial. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. 8 The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

9 Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him; and so the Israelites gave him their obedience, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and wonders the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, 12 and all the great might and the awesome power that Moses displayed in the sight of all Israel.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-16-2023: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 66:20a, 10b

20 Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer

and refuse his mercy.

10 You tested us, O God,

tried us as silver tried by fire.

PSALM

Psalm 66:1–3a, 5, 8, 16–17

1 For the leader. A song; a psalm.

2 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;

sing of his glorious name;

give him glorious praise.

3 Say to God: “How awesome your deeds!

Before your great strength your enemies cringe.

5 Come and see the works of God,

awesome in deeds before the children of Adam.

8 Bless our God, you peoples;

loudly sound his praise,

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,

while I recount what has been done for me.

17 I called to him with my mouth;

praise was upon my tongue.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-16-2023: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Corinthians 5:19

19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

GOSPEL

Matthew 18:15–20

15 “If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. 16  If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. 18  Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19  Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. 20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 8-16-2023: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

WEDNESDAY OF THE NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

Catholic Daily Readings 8-16-2023: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

On the same date: Saint Stephen of Hungary

First Reading Deuteronomy 34:1–12

Response Psalm 66:20a, 10b

Psalm Psalm 66:1–3a, 5, 8, 16–17

Gospel Acclamation 2 Corinthians 5:19

Gospel Matthew 18:15–20