At mass today, we read a couple of passages that happen to be close to my heart. Or, to say the least, they happen to be on my mind. In fact, I actually quoted today's reading to my wife on Saturday night, as we discussed some familial issues.
The passage that we read was, Romans 13:8-10. In it Paul tells his followers that they should call people out on their sins when they sin against them. But, if we read that passage in the light of today's first reading, Ezekiel 33:7-9, then the passages meaning changes for me. In today's first passage, God basically tells us that our brother's sins can be counted against us, if we fail to warn them of their folly. In both cases, we are told to speak to those who do wrong. We are given the task of bringing other's wrongs to light and asked to help them understand why their actions are wrong and how to fix them.
I ask, am I my brother's keeper? My initial reaction is no, but lately, in light of how I know I should live my life, I want to say yes.
So many people do things that rain death upon their immortal souls, and most of the time I feel powerless to do anything about it. But I often feel that that is just a cop out. That ultimately, I don't correct people because I don't want to be a pain and because I am scared to hold anybody accountable.
So are we responsible to other's souls? Our modern world would say, "No." But that is the problem with our modern world. We are so wrapped up in our own lives that we can't be a benefit to our communities, neighbors, or families anymore unless we yell at corporations or the government. We are so withdrawn from others that we can't even begin to help them.
I submit to you that the end all of our existence will be the good works we did in our lives and that means that we have to forgo the pleasantries or niceties and shed our fear of getting real with people and correct them, in love. Because if they know that you are concerned with their eternal well being, then those hard conversations, never become easy, they just become possible.
The passage that we read was, Romans 13:8-10. In it Paul tells his followers that they should call people out on their sins when they sin against them. But, if we read that passage in the light of today's first reading, Ezekiel 33:7-9, then the passages meaning changes for me. In today's first passage, God basically tells us that our brother's sins can be counted against us, if we fail to warn them of their folly. In both cases, we are told to speak to those who do wrong. We are given the task of bringing other's wrongs to light and asked to help them understand why their actions are wrong and how to fix them.
I ask, am I my brother's keeper? My initial reaction is no, but lately, in light of how I know I should live my life, I want to say yes.
So many people do things that rain death upon their immortal souls, and most of the time I feel powerless to do anything about it. But I often feel that that is just a cop out. That ultimately, I don't correct people because I don't want to be a pain and because I am scared to hold anybody accountable.
So are we responsible to other's souls? Our modern world would say, "No." But that is the problem with our modern world. We are so wrapped up in our own lives that we can't be a benefit to our communities, neighbors, or families anymore unless we yell at corporations or the government. We are so withdrawn from others that we can't even begin to help them.
I submit to you that the end all of our existence will be the good works we did in our lives and that means that we have to forgo the pleasantries or niceties and shed our fear of getting real with people and correct them, in love. Because if they know that you are concerned with their eternal well being, then those hard conversations, never become easy, they just become possible.