The Just Shall Live

Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 12th August, 2020
Texts: Ez. 9:1-7,10:18-22; Ps. 113:1b-6; Matt.18:15-20
The just shall live and be set free from sigh and groan on the day of judgment. The judgment of God begins with the marking out of the just, those who are distressed over the sinful deeds of man.  God puts it thus: "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it". The first reading talks of the effect of sins on the just as sigh and groan. Sigh is an expression of tiredness while groan expresses pain. Sin makes man sick and tired and also inflicts pains on everybody. Hence, everyone has the responsibility and duty bound to work for peace.
The just are to make all the possible attempts to make peace. Today's gospel talks of the possible attempts to take in making peace. The first step is through private dialogue, and if that fails, we make use of the second attempt, which is seeking the help of two or three witnesses. The third attempt is through the Church. The gospel shows that man is judged here and now on the basis of his rejection of the possible means of salvation. Jesus says, "Truly, 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". Hence, this shows we judge ourselves first. This teaches us to listen to ourselves, to heed the call from others to live in peace.
Those who are condemned are those who have been offered all the possible means of salvation, but reject them.The first attempt is private dialogue, the second is the societal approved means of making peace, and the third is divine agency for making peace. Hence, the person has been offered the possible means of salvation, but refuse to be saved.
Dear friends, we hear or read the God's words and receive Holy Communion, do we appropriate the grace given by the word and the sacrament? Let us make use of the possible means of salvation that is at our disposal to save our souls.

Lord our God, help us to make use of the possible means of salvation you have offered us. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke