I’m going to tell you one of my pet peeves; its not the only one, trust me, but it’s one that seems to happen far too often. I can’t count the times when I have been at dinner or some other social outing with food. In the course of the event I am talking with people, visiting table to table, and seeing how people are doing. After an hour or two, it happens! Maybe I catch my reflection in a mirror or see a just-taken group picture with me on someone’s phone and I realize I have a big piece of food stuck, front and center, in my teeth! Even though you could see it from outer space, no one said anything, even though they all noticed it! It’s like the ultimate betrayal. The same could be said if you’ve ever inadvertently walked around for hours with your shirt inside out, your zipper down, or something hanging out of your nose, and no one said anything!!! They were probably trying to save you (and them) embarrassment or avoiding an awkward moment but in fact they just made things worse as you walked around looking like a slob. I will say it right here to all of you; if you see me walking around with something in my teeth, clothing inside out, or unbuttoned, please say something. I mean, be nice about it, but say something!
The inspiration for this exhortation comes, not so much from my own fear of looking foolish or unkempt, but actually from the word of God. In the first reading, God says to Ezekiel, “You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” God goes on to tell Ezekiel if he warns the wayward sinner and is ignored, it is no longer the prophet’s problem; he has done his job. The gospel builds on this theme of correction as Jesus lays out a process of loving confrontation to be used by his followers when someone has fallen into sin.
Both of these readings, with their mandate to correct the sinner, fly in the face of what politically-correct, morally-subjective society tells us to do. Our culture often preaches that we should never rock the boat, that hurting someone’s feelings or offending them is the worst sin we could ever commit. Ahhh, but the Word of God offers another perspective, which is certainly more challenging but also more loving.
Just as He told the prophet Ezekiel, God tells us, ‘you are a watchman, a watchwoman for my kingdom. If you see someone doing wrong and say nothing; you are in some way responsible too!’ We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers! If we truly love every person, we have to want what is best for them, which is not just happiness but happiness in heaven. Many times that will mean supporting others with encouragement and love. Sometimes that will mean pointing out wrongs, ways a person is wandering away from God and his saving laws. We see this in good parenting; effective loving parents not only encourage their children but also correct them. They always strive to do so with love but true love and concern for the child means confronting wrongdoing directly and not ignoring it or letting the next person deal with it.
You and I have a responsibility to encourage and support one another on our journey of faith. Think of how often we already do that in our families, in our friendships, and in this parish. We also have the responsibility to love each other enough that if we see someone in a way which compromises their salvation or hurts other people, then we kindly bring it to their attention out of concern for their spiritual well-being. We never correct people because we think we are perfect or self-righteous. That would be prideful and ultimately the other person would sense that. We correct others respectfully, prayerfully, humbly; knowing we would want them to do the same for us.
There is nothing easy about confronting another person about something as personal as sin. Thankfully, in the gospel, Jesus gives us method for doing so with the best possible chance of a good outcome. We would be wise to follow his approach, which starts small with just two people and only involves others if absolutely necessary. We also can’t hope to give correction if we aren’t first open to receive it. Every one of us is imperfect and sinful in some way. We must be humble enough to accept correction from the prophets God sends into our lives. The experience of receiving correction prepares us to give it compassionately. We know how the first reaction we feel is often shame, pride, anger, or defensiveness. It doesn’t mean the person isn’t right but that is often the first response to correction is pushing back or lashing out. Knowing this helps us to be kind to the person who loves us enough to point out our sins and also allows us to absorb the feelings of those whom we correct without taking it personally.
Ultimately, we aren’t correcting people according to our standards or trying to make life easier for ourselves. We only do it out of love for others and their eternal well-being. We should always pray about the situation and for the person before we offer correction. We are not called to be busybodies who run around pointing out the faults of others! Everything we do should be motivated by Godly love. So, the next time your pastor has broccoli in his teeth, or your teenager does something that needs to be addressed, or a friend or coworker is about to make a decision that will separate them from God, say a prayer and then speak up! You might be the first moment of a conversion that brings a person closer to God for all eternity!
