Grievance and Outrage

Gospel: Matthew 18: 15-20

In our age of perpetual grievance and outrage - where every slight and complaint has its own well-funded cottage industry of online warriors ready to do battle - today's Gospel portion goes unnoticed and ignored.  Many innocent bystanders lose their good names, and infinitely more walk away from religion altogether when the vitriol of church life is no better and often worse than in secular politics.

At the same time, the fact that the Church has historically ignored massive scandals and sought to actively cover them up under the pretense of today's Gospel portion is itself a scandal to be pondered.  When the Church fails to properly discipline her members, we cannot be surprised when people turn to other outlets to find the justice that is their due.  

The fundamental mission of Jesus, and by extension the Church, is that of reconciliation.  This involves seeking forgiveness, but it is also involves forgiving others.  Both of these are immense challenges to our personal and collective egos.  Both are also great gifts to us in remaining ever humble in our service to others in the world.