OMELIE / Omelie EN

06 set 2026

6 September 2026 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

6 September 2026 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

1st reading: Ezekiel 33:7–9; Psalm 94; 2nd reading: Romans 13:8–10; Gospel: Matthew 18:15–20

When God’s love enters our lives, it takes on various forms and expressions: indeed, it must take account of the different stages of our lives and the many and varied aspects of our existence. It is neither impossible nor unlikely that the Father’s love will find us disobedient to him – that is, sinners – engaged in thoughts or deeds that run counter to the teachings of his wisdom. What happens in such cases? If the love the Father has for us encounters our sin, what happens?

An answer comes through Ezekiel. God reveals to the prophet what his role is amongst the people. He acts as a watchman. The watchman seeks to observe everything and take note of what is happening. If he sees a person behaving in a way that disobeys God’s law, he must warn them, reminding them of the words of divine wisdom. If the watchman were to fail to do so, he would be guilty of that person’s sin: he has not helped them to repent. And the prophet continues: if the watchman warns them of their error and they do not listen, he will not be held accountable for that person’s sin.

The Apostle Saint Paul, writing to the Romans, completes the prophet’s teaching, addressing not only the watchman but all the members of that people who form the Kingdom of Heaven. He says to everyone, and therefore to me too: ‘Owe no one anything, except to love one another.’ It is important to him that we do not live by God’s commandments as if they were mere orders, as if we were slaves. It is indeed necessary to observe the commandments, but with the awareness that through them we express our love. We have received the grace to know how to love, as God our Father loves, as Jesus loved us by offering himself on the cross. From the Father and from Jesus we learn true love; indeed, from them we receive the capacity for it. When we keep the commandments, we highlight not our own good will or our obedience—which is sometimes forced—but God’s love, his charity. And love, when it is present, reaches out to everyone, and reaches them with the joy we receive from the One who pours it into our hearts. Thus, our obedient love will not be a cause of offence to anyone.

Jesus takes into account the possibility that a believer, one of his disciples, might commit a fault. No one should take offence; quite the contrary. Should this happen, the one who notices it will act like the watchman of whom the prophet Ezekiel spoke. The one who notices it will help the other to repent. How? With charity, with great charity, so as not to fall into the sin of pride, superiority or condemnation himself. He will speak to him face to face, gently: ‘Admonish him between you and him alone,’ says the Lord. If the person does not understand or refuses to repent, the watchman will seek help from another, one inspired by the Holy Spirit, who has words sweeter or more convincing than his own. But Jesus adds further: if the person still does not repent, then inform the whole community. The community’s word will have a greater impact on him. But if even this attempt proves fruitless and that person persists in his sin, cut him off from your friendship and from the fellowship of all. If he does not listen to Jesus, he is not worthy to remain in the kingdom of heaven.

Listening to Jesus and listening to the community are one and the same. Why is that? It is the community that binds and looses in heaven. What the community decides is decided by God himself, by our Father, and therefore by Jesus. Yes, ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.’ The presence of Jesus in the community is a serious matter, with beautiful, great and bold consequences. It has consequences for the prayer of the community’s members: it will be a prayer pleasing to God, heard and answered by him. But it also has consequences for all the decisions taken together.

This Word of Jesus should have consequences for our whole way of life. We will always seek to be united with those who love Jesus. If he is present when we are united, we will take care never to do anything without this unity. Jesus’ presence is certainly more important and more fruitful than anything I might do or decide on the basis of my own good and wise reasons. When Jesus is present, he can work wonders and surpass all my and our expectations. When Jesus is present in a group of believers, in the parish or at a celebration, he does not remain idle. Not only will there be conversions from sin to a life of obedience, as suggested by Ezekiel, but there will also be new inspirations and plans to make the Church a antechamber of Paradise, a place where mutual love shines forth and spreads joy to all hearts, even to those who suffer under the crosses they bear together with the Lord.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)