September 06, 2020

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

It would probably be accurate to say that most active Catholics pray frequently, perhaps even on a daily basis. This might range from as little as the recitation of the Our Father and Hail Mary, along with a simple request or prayer of gratitude, to a whole litany of prayers, such as the Liturgy of the Hours. Regardless of the approach, there are many ways people might speak to God.

There are also numerous passages in the Gospels where Jesus teaches about ways to pray and the power of prayer. First and foremost, Jesus tells us that prayer should conform to the will of the Father: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven…” (Mt. 6:10).

Jesus also says that we should not pray outwardly and arrogantly, like hypocrites, to gain the attention of others. Rather we should pray secretly, behind closed doors and intimately attuned to the Father.  Although God already knows what we need before we ask, like a parent, God still wants us to talk to Him (Mt. 6:5-8).

Lastly, Jesus says that we must pray with faith in the fact that God hears us: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” (Mk 11:24).

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 18:15-20), Jesus guarantees his presence when two or three people gather in his name. Then, he says, “if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” (Mt. 18:19).

The rest of this passage along with the First Reading offer us another component of prayer to consider, one which is often overlooked. It is listening. Most of the time when we pray, we are so busy talking to God, saying so many words, that we forget to stop and listen for God speaking to us.

We hear the ramifications of failing to listen in Ezekiel today (Ezek. 33:7-9). God tells Ezekiel that he has appointed him as sentinel, or watchmen, for the people of Israel. He tells Ezekiel that if he fails to pass on the words of God, the warnings against their sinfulness, then he will be held accountable for their sins. However, if Ezekiel does speak the words of God, but the people refuse to listen, they will suffer the repercussions, or “die for their sins.” (Ezek. 33:9a).

In the rest of the Gospel passage from Matthew 18, we hear more about the necessity of listening to instructions from God. Jesus is instructing the disciples on ways to deal with sinful members in their community. He gives them the power to either hold a person responsible for their sin or to let it go. This, too, is based on the person’s willingness to listen.

Jesus tells them to personally approach the individual. If he listens then all is forgiven. If he refuses to heed, then they are to take a series of other measures. They are to approach with two or three witnesses who can corroborate their claim. If this fails, they are to have they entire community or church confront the man. When this final step fails, then the person is to be treated as a “Gentile or tax collector.” This means he is to be ostracized or excommunicated from the Church.

This might be likened to the type of scenario which happens to us when we pray. We ask God for a particular favor – to mend a shattered relationship, to break a bad habit, or to forgive a repeated sin. God sends an individual who offers advice, like a parent, a sibling, or another relative. But we think they cannot possibly know what is good for us, so we neglect to heed their advice.

Then God sends two or three people to help us, perhaps a few friends or sort of small group counseling program. But they too fall short, in our own minds, when it comes to resolving our particular issue.

Finally, God sends a full-on intervention of people who are concerned for us spiritually, psychologically, or emotionally. This is God’s final attempt. If we continue to persist in our stubbornness and still refuse to listen, then we become estranged from those closest to us and those who love us. And exiled by our own selfish despair, we even become separated from God.

Remember, prayer is a two-way street. We speak, but we must also attentively listen. There are clues to God’s response from the people who surround us that we must not ignore.

The psalmist for today says it perfectly: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Ps. 95:7b-8a).