The WORD in other words (2017) by Father Cirilo Ortega SVD – Divine Word College of Vigan
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – A
Today’s Gospel (Matthew 18:15–20) offers practical and compassionate guidance on dealing with conflict and broken relationships within the Christian community. At its heart lies the call to reconciliation, a value central to the Gospel and to the mission of Christ Himself.
The first step toward reconciliation is listening. Often, what we hear is not necessarily what was actually said. Genuine listening requires humility and a willingness to reach out to the other person. This first step is often painful, but it is indispensable if there is to be any hope for forgiveness, healing, and peace. When a relationship truly matters, we must be willing to swallow our pride. As St. Paul exhorts: “Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other; as the Lord has forgiven you” (Colossians 3:13).
If this first effort fails, Jesus advises involving one or two others: “Take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:16). Unfortunately, many people reverse the process. Rather than speaking directly to the person involved, they immediately seek allies and draw others into the dispute. The Gospel, however, calls for mediation, not factionalism.
If the second step also fails, Jesus instructs that the matter be brought before the Church (Matthew 18:17). Sadly, this passage has sometimes been misused to justify exclusion or harsh treatment of those who have fallen away. Yet this was not Jesus’ intention. After all, Matthew himself was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9), and Jesus was known as “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 11:19). His entire ministry was dedicated to seeking the lost and reconciling sinners to God.
When the Church recognizes that a person has placed himself or herself outside the community, it is not primarily an act of condemnation but an acknowledgment of reality. The ultimate goal remains restoration, repentance, and a return to communion. Like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one sheep that is lost (Luke 15:4–7), the Church never ceases to hope for reconciliation.
Reconciliation is the key to healing divisions and restoring relationships. The process becomes possible because Christ is present among those who seek peace in His name. Jesus promises: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”(Matthew 18:20). Even when conflicts seem hopeless, God remains present, sustaining hearts and inspiring new beginnings.
At the deepest center of our being, we encounter God, and there hope is born. Reconciliation without God may achieve a temporary settlement; reconciliation with God brings true healing and transformation. Christ Himself is the supreme reconciler, the One who “is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).
Our natural inclination in conflict is often to determine who is right and who is wrong, and then to walk away from the relationship. Yet God’s plan is not estrangement but encounter. He invites conflicting parties to sit face to face, to listen, to pray, and to seek a path toward mutual understanding. Prayer plays an essential role in this process, allowing us to discern God’s will and to learn how to love one another authentically.
True love is more than being pleasant or agreeable. It requires reflection, honesty, courage, and sometimes difficult decisions. As St. Paul reminds us, “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4), and it seeks the good of the other.
Therefore, Matthew 18:15–20 should never be interpreted as permission for those in authority to harm others or abuse power. Rather, it is a call to accountability, responsibility, and compassionate leadership. It teaches us to use the power entrusted to us for the good of others, especially the weakest and most vulnerable. Ultimately, this Gospel is about building a community marked by mercy, justice, reconciliation, and inclusion—the very characteristics of the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us to listen before we judge, to forgive before we condemn, and to seek reconciliation before division. May Your presence among us bring healing to broken relationships, and may we become instruments of Your peace and mercy. Amen.
