Wednesday of 19th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Resolving issues from their roots

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