GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
The Wandering Brother: Mt 18,15-20
While not forgetting the wandering sister. Who are these brothers and sisters? Note the adjective. What is noticeable about the NRSV translation in comparison with others?
Following the parable of the wandering sheep, these verses with their disciplinary theme are central within the discourse. The topic here is not so much care of the little ones which preceeds or of forgiveness which follows. Rather, these verses are the practical question of what must happen when something goes wrong; brothers and sisters will be sinners. As this is a topic for all human communities, it is as well to keep in mind what we have touched on already, how the surrounding verses provide a setting for this section.
Make a list of the various stages of the process as described in 18,15-17.
To understand something of the background to the process, look at Deuteronomy 19,15 and Leviticus 19,15-18.
What might be the implication of "treat him as a Gentile and a tax collector" which is the conclusion to verse 17? Look back to verse 14 and forward to verse 21.
For a practical example see 1 Corinthians 5,1-5.
What word introduces both verse 18 and 19? What does this say about these two statements and about verse 17?
There are parallels with chapter 16 in verses 17 & 18 as 16,18 and 18,17 are the only occurences of the word "Church" in the Gospels. It's clearer here than in chapter 16 what the Church is. Then compare 18,18 with 16,19. What conclusions can you draw?
Verses 19 and 20 provide a setting for the process. How does verse 20 fit with 1,23 and 28,20?
Now take a look at my response.
The Sunday Gospel
These verses, 18,15-20, form the Gospel for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. I suggested in the overview a possible weakness of reading these verses on their own.
Reflect upon the OT reading for this Sunday, Ezekiel 33,7-9 and also Psalm 95 with the response.
The NT reading is always separate to the Gospel and OT reading yet St Paul writing to the Romans this Sunday (Rom 13,8-10) provides a useful corrective. (Unfortunately, the Jerusalem Bible translation of the letter to the Romans is poor.)
Now take a look at my response
We now move on to Peter's intervention and the importance of forgiveness, 18,21-35.