If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.  If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you (Mt 18:15-16).

In this gospel reading, I hear Jesus offering his followers advice for handling difficult situations among believers.  He knows misunderstandings can lead to conflicts and schisms unless we work to reconcile differences.  I wonder if this gospel teaching influences the Presupposition in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (22).

That both the giver and the receiver of the Spiritual Exercises may be of greater help and benefit to each other, it should be presupposed that every good Christian out to be more eager to put a good interpretation on a neighbor’s statement than to condemn it…

Ignatius’ Presupposition applies within the context of the Spiritual Exercises.  Jesus directs his advice to his followers.  In our pluralistic society, perhaps we should be mindful of the advice from both holy men for all relationships.  If we begin with a desire to understand rather than to be understood (Steven Covey), how might that change our interactions with anyone?  For example:

After hearing Jesus’ teaching, Thomas spends the next few hours reflecting on a recent encounter with Peter.  Peter is outspoken and does not react well to criticism, so Thomas is reluctant to approach him.  This teaching gives Thomas the courage to speak to Peter.  As he expects, it does not go well.  Undaunted, Thomas approaches James and John.

What do you imagine happens when these three gather?  How might they help Thomas decide on his next steps?  Might they invite Thomas to view the situation as an opportunity for reconciliation rather than to escalate the confrontation?   How is God part of the conversation? 

Jesus advises that when our efforts fail, we should treat the person like a Gentile or tax collector (Mt 18:17).  What do you hear in that statement? 

I recall a homily from many years ago,  with the priest asking, And how did Jesus treat Gentiles and tax collectors?  He answers his rhetorical question: He hung out with them. 

It does seem simpler to back away from Gentiles and tax collectors, especially those we see and hear in the news.  How do we (can we) engage and seek to understand (reconcile) when the issues are so contentious?  If we back away, how does this help build God’s Kingdom?  There are no easy answers to these and other questions, but there is guidance on how to proceed. 

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Mt 18:20).

Communal prayer, open hearts and minds, and a desire to use our gifts for the greater good are all God expects.  We can only do our best to respond to God’s call within our concrete circumstances because the fulfillment of Salvation History is up to God. 

Who are the Gentles and tax collectors calling you to encounter?  What gifts do you offer to help the world heal and find reconciliation?   

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us
the message of reconciliation 2 Cor 5:19.