23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Ezekiel 33:7—9

SECOND READING
Romans 13:8—10

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:15—20

THEME: ONE STEP IS NOT ENOUGH, IT CONCERNS YOU.

A story was told by an old man to children gathered around him in the village square. The story goes like this; A tree squirrel was on a tree crying on the top of its voice. At a point, a snake nearby told the squirrel to keep quiet but it did not listen, the snake said, it does not concern it. The squirrel continued and cocoyam's leaf told it to keep quiet but it did not listen, then the cocoyam's leaf said the same thing. It does not concern it. Lastly, a pumpkin stem told the squirrel to keep quiet and it did the same as before, the stem of pumpkin also did as others have done. As the squirrel continued, a hunter heard the sound of the crying, he approached and shot the squirrel. The squirrel fell beside the snake, the snake was laughing and lamenting, “I warned this idiot”. As the snake was still laughing, it was also killed by the same hunter. The hunter looked around to see what he will use to carry the two animals, he saw the cocoyam’s leaf and cut it. Again looking for something to use to tie them, he cut the stem of pumpkin. It has concerned all of them. Continue Raeding......................

Manner of approach matters. Some will say, as a Christian, I told him to stop his evil deeds but he was even causing me. The manner of approach you used matters a lot. No person’s evils will be told him in the face and he will be happy with you but after thinking about it, there will be a change if the person is a good Christian. Just try and use a more palatable way.

The worst is not even telling the person at all. St. Augustine said that evil came into the world through privation of good. When good men stop acting. Another that we should seriously put into consideration is rushing into conclusion without being clarified. Just see this story that I got from WhatsApp.

A cat was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby with it & go out to attend other matters. She always returned to find the child soundly asleep with the cat faithfully watching over him. One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual, left the baby in the "hands" of this faithful cat & went out shopping. When she returned, she discovered rather a nasty scene, there was a total mess. The baby's cot was dismantled; his nappies & clothes torn to shreds with blood stains all over the bedroom where she left the child & the cat. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby. All of a sudden, she saw the faithful cat emerging from under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious meal. The woman went berserk & assumed that the cat had devoured her baby. Without much thought she beat the cat with a wood to death. But as she continued searching for the “remains" of her child, she beheld another scene. Close to the bed was the baby, who although lying bare on the floor, was safe & under   the body of a snake torn to pieces in what must have been a fierce battle between it & the cat, which was now dead. Then reality dawned on the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The cat fought to protect the baby from the ravenous snake. It was too late for her now to make amends because in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful cat. How often have we misjudged people & torn them to shreds with harsh words and deeds before we have had time to evaluate the situation? It is called SIN OF PRESUMPTION presuming things our way without taking the trouble to find out exactly what the situation really is. Little patience can drastically reduce major life long mistakes. Who are you misjudging right now? Don't think what you think others are thinking. Take time to get the whole truth. Please be patient with people lest you live to regret your actions against them. Be quick to hear but slow to respond and become angry (James 1:19-27).

Many steps have to be taken in saving our relations both biological and in Christ. What concerns our relations both biological and in Christ should concern us. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.