Edward Hopper, Morning Sun (1952), Columbus Museum of Art (Ohio)
Chapter 18 of the Gospel of Matthew is often called the Dissertation on the Church. In the section we have in today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples on how to care for those who turn from Him, turn from the Church. “If your brother sins against you….” These steps really have to do with Mercy. The person who approaches the brother who has sinned is basically saying, “Look, you have gone in the wrong direction. I know you. I know this is not you. You are better than that.” The person is being offered forgiveness and mercy by the one he has offended and, by extension, by the Church. If the person continues to offend or is obstinate in holding on to his sin, then two or three should approach the fellow saying, “We miss you, you belong with us. We need you to be with us. Turn from your ways and know that the mercy of God is there for you.” If the person remains obstinate, then perhaps a representative of the entire Church, a deacon, priest or bishop, might help the person understand why his actions are offensive. “This is who we are. This is who you are becoming. You are leaving us. Do not do that. Please.” If the person still refuses to receive the mercy and forgiveness of the Church, he would no longer be part of the Church. Still the mercy of God is always available for him in the Church! Every Mass, and specially at Good Friday liturgy we pray that those who have been away from the Church may come back home. We are not just praying for those who no longer attend Mass. We are mainly praying that all those who have turned away from God might come home and receive mercy. We always pray for the conversion of sinners, beginning, of course, with ourselves. “Whoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” When the Church binds someone to itself, that person is part of the earthly Church and the heavenly Church. When the Church recognizes that someone is no longer part of the Saved Community on earth, then that person is no longer part of the Saved Community in heaven. But mercy is always there for that person. The Church is the Fountain of Mercy. So, we pray, “Please come home.” There are many models, models of understanding the one Church. The Church is an institution, people, sacraments, evangelizers, servants, and fountain of mercy. It is not just one of these. It is all of these and much more. Most importantly, the Church is the place that celebrates the presence of our Lord and Savior, for “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Today’s Gospel tells us that we are not merely members of an organization. The Church is far more than that. The Church is the Body of Christ. And we are the Church • AE
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Dominic Catholic Church
Saturday September 9, 2023.
3.00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessional) Fr. Agustin
5. 00 p.m. Holy Mass – Fr. Agustin
Sunday September 10, 2023
7.30 a.m. Mass Fr. Agustin
10.00 a.m. Mass Fr. Enda McKenna
12.30 p.m. Mass Fr. Agustin
3.00 p.m. Misa en Español Fr. Agustin
Domingo XXIII Del Tiempo Ordinario (Ciclo A)
Pacino di Bonaguida, Jesus y los apóstoles (1340), National Gallery of Art (Washington)
«Donde están dos o tres reunidos en mi nombre allí estoy yo en medio de ellos». La mejor manera de hacer presente a Cristo en su Iglesia es mantenernos unidos actuando «en su nombre» y movidos por su Espíritu. La Iglesia no necesita tanto de nuestras confesiones de amor o nuestras críticas cuanto de nuestro compromiso real. No son pocas las preguntas que nos podemos hacer. ¿Qué hago yo por crear un clima de conversión en el seno de esta Iglesia siempre necesitada de renovación y transformación? ¿Cómo sería la Iglesia si todos vivieran la adhesión a Cristo más o menos como la vivo yo? ¿Sería más o menos fiel a Jesús?
¿Qué aporto yo de espíritu, verdad y autenticidad en esta Iglesia tan necesitada de radicalidad evangélica para ofrecer un testimonio creíble de Jesús en medio de una sociedad indiferente y descreída?
¿Cómo contribuyo con mi vida a edificar una Iglesia más cercana a los hombres y mujeres de nuestro tiempo, que sepa no sólo enseñar, predicar y exhortar, sino, sobre todo, acoger, escuchar y acompañar a quienes viven perdidos, sin conocer el amor ni la amistad?
¿Qué aporto yo para construir una Iglesia samaritana, de corazón grande y compasivo, capaz de olvidarse de sus propios intereses, para vivir volcada sobre los grandes problemas de la humanidad?
¿Qué hago yo para que la Iglesia se libere de miedos y servidumbres que la paralizan y atan al pasado, y se deje penetrar y vivificar por la frescura y la creatividad que nace del evangelio de Jesús?
¿Qué aporto en estos momentos para que la Iglesia aprenda a vivir en minoría, sin grandes pretensiones sociales, sino de manera humilde, como levadura» oculta, sal transformadora, pequeña semilla de mostaza dispuesta a morir para dar vida?
¿Qué hago yo por una Iglesia más alegre y esperanzada, más libre y comprensiva, más transparente y fraterna, más creyente y más creíble, más de Dios y menos del mundo, más de Jesús y menos de nuestros intereses y ambiciones? La Iglesia cambia cuando cambiamos nosotros, se convierte cuando nosotros nos convertimos y sobre todo cuando confiamos que Jesús es el Supremo Pastor y que es Él quien la gobierna • AE
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LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 