Scripture Reflection, September 6, 2026, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 33:7-9 Romans 13:8-10 Matthew 18:15-20

There is a thread that runs through American history called “rugged individualism”… The belief that there is some heroic figure, a John Wayne-type or a caped crusader who will save the day at the end! Today's scriptures paint a different picture. They emphasize that we are all connected and that we are responsible to and for one another.

From today's first reading in which God tells the prophet of his responsibility to warn the sinner, to the second reading reminding the community, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, to the gospel which describes a process of reconciliation within the community, all of our readings remind us that we belong to one another.

I think most of us, most of the time, see the commandment to love our neighbor as a one-to-one responsibility. I examine my conscience to see if there are individuals in my life that I have not loved as well as I should. That, of course, is a good beginning.

But our civic life is the way we express our love of neighbor communally. We are already seeing television ads which urge us not so much to vote for a specific candidate but to cast our vote against a candidate who is described in vile terms untethered to fact. Expect more of the same. As November draws closer it would be very educational to look at campaign ads through the lens of today's gospel. Does a given candidate support policies that care for all of our brothers and sisters or just a few? Does a candidate support public policy that treats each person with dignity as the first Catholic social justice principle requires? Does this candidate support justice and care for our fragile planet?

Love of neighbor is not always a warm, tender experience. Sometimes it asks a great deal of us. In Fratelli tutti Pope Francis reminded us, "It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering, but it is also an act of charity… to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering. "

by: Pat Schnee, OPA