David Ancell / Monday September 09, 2002
Yesterday and today we’ve had some pretty interesting Scripture readings about how we are to respond to evil. Sunday, we had Ezekiel 33:7-9 and Matthew 18:15-20. Today at daily Mass, we had 1 Corinthians 5:1-8. All of them speak in their own way about our duty to speak against evil. The Gospel of Matthew says to first approach the matter privately, then bring a friend, and only after that hasn’t worked do you bring the whole Church.
One of my greatest struggles is trying to reconcile this and the teaching of Jesus against the judging of others. It seems that all I see are extremes. Some people are so critical that they probably think that “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is corrupting the minds of young people because it’ll make them think that farm is spelled “e-i-e-i-o.” I wonder what good they think they are doing. Others act as though the only sin is to say that something is a sin. The irony is that in saying that it’s wrong to judge others, they judge all of those people whom they perceive to be judging others.
What is the proper attitude towards sin? For example, how should we respond if we see someone having spent all of Mass out in the narthex talking to someone else? Bring this up, and invariably someone will shrug you off and tell you that you are being judgmental. However, this person didn’t satisfy his/her Mass obligation, and this person’s soul may be in danger because of it. We don’t appreciate seeing someone treat our family and friends with disrespect after being invited over to their houses. Why shouldn’t we be concerned when we see our beloved Lord taken so lightly?
On the other hand, some of those who preach against sin act as though they are looking forward to seeing the sinners burn in Hell. Why not exercise some fraternal correction? Speak up, and try to help the person like Jesus said to do in the aforementioned Gospel.
I want to fight against sin, both in my own life and in others. Jesus did say that once we’ve removed the log from our own eye, we can see clearly to remove the speck from our brother’s eye. I pray that God will grant me the prudence to know how to go about it.
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