Ez 33: 7-9 Romans 13: 8-10 Mt 18: 15-20
Throughout my lifetime I am have been a very big fan of moral outrage. I have been morally outraged at the behavior of a few presidents, a bunch of people from foreign countries, some CEO’s, a couple of bishops, and people that I have worked with and for. Heck, I’m still morally outraged at the Colts for leaving Baltimore! If you enjoy a good fit of moral outrage once and a while today’s gospel is for you. In today’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples how to deal with the sins of others. In essence his advice is to tell the sinner their fault. If they don’t listen then have a couple people tell them. If that doesn’t work have the Church tell them. Finally if that doesn’t work treat them as you would a “gentile or a tax collector”. The contemporary expression of treating someone like a gentile or tax collector is to tell them to go to hell. Stay with me because it gets even better. Not only can I tell those who morally outrage me to go to hell I have Jesus’ approval. Jesus tells me in the gospel that whatever I bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever I loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. What a major consolation it is to know that the Savior approves of my moral outrage! If I live long enough I will be able to condemn everyone to hell except God and myself.
The interesting thing about moral outrage is that it is always directed at someone else. It is so much easier to be angry about the perceived sinfulness of others that it is to look into our own lives. When I have the courage to look at my own faults I become less judgmental and outraged with others. I begin to realize that someone in the gospel has put words into Jesus’ mouth. How could it be that Jesus wanted people treated like Gentiles and tax collectors when he associated with them and even held them up as positive examples for the community? Something doesn’t make sense. How can Jesus who never gave up on anyone be saying that his followers should? If I take the time to turn away from my moral outrage I will realize that Jesus has never given up on me. If I am to be a follower of his I must have the same positive regard for all human beings. It is pretty easy to condemn someone to hell, to execute them or to blow them up. It is much harder to convert them, but this is preciously what we are called to do as Roman Catholics. The prerequisite for converting others is personal conversion.
In Ezekiel the Lord is quoted as saying “the wicked shall die for his guilt but I will hold you responsible for his death”. Is Ezekiel hinting at the fact that I must live a moral life and set good example? Is Ezekiel saying that maybe some of the things that I do contribute to the degree of evil in the world? Romans tell us “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Do we see our neighbors as all the world’s people? Are we even aware of their hardships? Do we have the compassion for them and their situation? Do we choose up sides before we even know anything about the people involved?
I know now why I life moral outrage. It is so simple, so them and me. Moral outrage is a good place to be. Expect that the toll for moral outrage is hardening of the heart. The psalmist tells us that “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”. My savior. The Lord Jesus has never given up on anyone especially me. I have heard his voice and it calls me to compassion. It is a difficult call but the only one that brings true peace.