Weekend Reflections for 9/5/14

By Fr. Len Kraus, S.J.

"...treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector." (Matthew 18:16)

In the larger passage from which this quote comes, Jesus is speaking about how we are to treat one another. This sentence seems harsh, perhaps...but then we can ask ourselves "In this same Gospel of Matthew, how does Jesus treat tax collectors?" He eats and drinks with them, invites one of them to be an apostle, is criticized for being too accepting and hopeful about them. Jesus tells us that on earth we have power to bind and to loose; and He says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them."

It would be wonderful if we could, as St. Paul tells us, "Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another," love as the Lord has loved us and truly loosen some bonds here on earth.