VIGÉSIMO TERCER DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2026

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, permítanme comenzar con estas preguntas: ¿Alguna vez han tenido un conflicto con alguien? ¿Creen que publicar nuestros conflictos en las redes sociales es la mejor manera de resolverlos? Si tenemos un problema con alguien, ¿cuál debería ser el primer paso que debemos dar? ¿Deberíamos hablar con otra persona acerca de esa persona, o deberíamos hablar directamente con ella?

En el mundo actual, a veces parece más fácil hacer que una situación negativa se vuelva viral que intentar resolverla. Vivimos en una cultura visual que nos anima a mostrar al mundo las situaciones y los problemas que experimentamos los seres humanos. Las redes sociales se han convertido no solo en un medio para mostrar situaciones negativas, sino también en una manera de organizar marchas y protestas contra esas situaciones. Lo lamentable de algunas de estas protestas es que, en ocasiones, terminan en violencia, muerte y destrucción, y el costo lo pagamos todos, incluso aquellos que no participan en ellas. Nunca debemos olvidar que no solo tenemos derechos, sino también responsabilidades.

A diferencia de esta manera de resolver los conflictos, Jesús nos presenta un proceso diferente, cuyo ideal es resolver los conflictos antes de que lleguen a mayor escala  . En la primera lectura, Dios le dice al profeta Ezequiel que ha sido constituido como centinela de Israel. Su responsabilidad es comunicar la palabra de Dios al pueblo, especialmente cuando necesita corrección. Si Ezequiel no cumple con esta responsabilidad, se hace responsable de la posible pérdida de una vida humana. De la misma manera, Dios nos hace responsables unos de otros, especialmente cuando se trata de corregirnos mutuamente para promover una convivencia pacífica entre los seres humanos.

Jesús propone un proceso sereno y respetuoso para corregir las faltas que otros han cometido contra nosotros. El propósito de este proceso es reintegrar a la comunidad a una persona que se ha alejado a causa del pecado. Este proceso comienza con un diálogo personal y una conversación directa. Si eso no funciona, es necesario involucrar a uno o dos testigos. Si aun así no funciona, el asunto debe presentarse ante la comunidad. Y si incluso eso no da resultado, Jesús dice que debemos tratar a esa persona como a un pagano o a un publicano.

La propuesta de Jesús requiere esfuerzo y una búsqueda constante de maneras de resolver las cosas pacíficamente. Jesús quiere asegurarse de que nosotros hayamos hecho nuestra parte para resolver el conflicto; que hayamos construido un puente e invitado a la otra persona a construir también su parte. Si todo fracasa, entonces lo único que queda por hacer es tomar cierta distancia de la situación o de la persona, sabiendo que hemos hecho todo lo posible para resolver el conflicto pacíficamente.

Jesús insiste en que este proceso de corrección fraterna tiene implicaciones que llegan hasta el Cielo. Por eso dice: «Todo lo que aten en la tierra quedará atado en el Cielo, y todo lo que desaten en la tierra quedará desatado en el Cielo».

Sería muy útil para nosotros, queridos hermanos y hermanas, preguntarnos hoy si estamos resolviendo nuestros conflictos de la manera de Jesús o de la manera que la sociedad y las redes sociales nos proponen con frecuencia. ¿Estamos construyendo puentes o estamos construyendo muros? ¿Estamos buscando la reconciliación o estamos buscando exponer y condenar a los demás?

Que Dios nos conceda la sabiduría, el valor y la humildad para seguir el camino de Jesús al resolver nuestros conflictos: con verdad, amor, diálogo y un deseo sincero de reconciliación.

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TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, let me begin this reflection with these questions: Have you ever had a conflict with somebody? Do you think that posting your conflicts on social media is the best way to resolve them? If you have a problem with somebody, what is the first step you should take? Should you talk to somebody else about that person, or should you talk to the person directly?

In today's world, it sometimes seems that it is easier to make a negative situation go viral than to try to solve it. We live in a visual culture that encourages us to exhibit to the world the situations and problems that we human beings experience. Social media has become not only a channel through which negative situations are displayed, but also a way to organize marches and protests against those situations. The unfortunate part of some of these protests is that they sometimes end in violence, death, and destruction, and the cost is paid by all of us, including those who did not participate in them. We must never forget that we not only have rights, but also responsibilities.

Unlike this way of resolving conflicts, Jesus presents us with a different process, one who’s ideal is to resolve conflicts before they grow into greater problems. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel is told by God that he has been appointed as a watchman for Israel. His responsibility is to communicate God's word to the people, especially when they need correction. If Ezekiel fails to do so, he becomes responsible for the possible loss of a human life. Likewise, God holds us accountable for one another, especially when it comes to correcting one another in order to promote peaceful coexistence among human beings.

Jesus proposes a quiet and respectful process for correcting the faults that others have committed against us. The purpose of this process is to bring back into the community a person who has been lost because of sin. This process begins with a personal dialogue and a direct conversation. If that fails, it is necessary to involve one or two witnesses. If that still does not work, the matter should be brought before the community. And if even that does not work, Jesus says that we should treat that person as a pagan or a tax collector.

Jesus' proposal requires effort and a constant search for ways to resolve things peacefully. Jesus wants to make sure that we have done our part to resolve the conflict—that we have built a bridge and invited the other person to build his or her part as well. If everything fails, then the only thing left to do is to take some distance from the situation or from the person, knowing that we have done everything possible to resolve the conflict peacefully.

Jesus insists that this process of fraternal correction has implications that reach all the way to Heaven. For that reason, He says: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”

It would be very useful for us, my dear brothers and sisters, to ask ourselves today whether we are resolving our conflicts in the way of Jesus or in the way that society and social media often propose to us. Are we building bridges, or are we building walls? Are we seeking reconciliation, or are we seeking to expose and condemn others?

May God give us the wisdom, courage, and humility to follow Jesus' way of resolving our conflicts—with truth, love, dialogue, and a sincere desire for reconciliation.

23rd Sunday – Cycle A

My friends,  today’s gospel is probably one of the most difficult to interpret in all of Matthew's gospel and it continues to baffle Scripture Scholars for several reasons:

One:  Our Gospel says, “If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.”  It would be unlikely that Jesus would say that because at that time there was no church.

Two:  “If he refuses to listen to even to the church, then treat him as you would treat a Gentile or a Tax Collector.”  This also would be unlikely because, as we know, Jesus befriended some Gentiles and Tax Collectors.  In fact, one of His Apostles, Matthew, was a tax collector.  Also, Zacchaeus was a Chief Tax Collector and Jesus had dinner with him and stayed at his house.   How many times have we heard Jesus say that Tax Collectors and prostitutes  will enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the chief priests and religious leaders ?

Scripture Scholars do agree that these Gospel verses are connected to the Old Testament and the Book of Deuteronomy, which dealt with judgment and punishment because Matthew was an Orthodox Jew, writing to Orthodox Jews.  So, probably some of that judgment and punishment thinking from the Book of Deuteronomy crept in there while Matthew was making his point.

But – Matthew’s main focus was not about judgment or punishment.  Rather, it was about reconciliation with the injured person going to the other person to reconcile.  In the very first sentence of today’s gospel, Jesus says, “If someone offends  you, go and  tell that person.”   My friends, it is so important to do this in person, not with a letter or text or email and certainly not via social media.  They can easily be misread or misinterpreted and cause further harm.

How many times has someone offended another and the offending person doesn’t even know that he or she has hurt the other person ?  How many times – has an injured person ‘stewed’ over something – and allowed this sore to fester ?   The worst thing that we can do is to brood about it.  Brooding is harmful and can damage the psyche and soul. 

In essence, Jesus was saying, "If anyone sins against you, spare no effort to make things right again between you and the other person."  Even if it takes an additional person as a mediator.  Even if it takes the whole Church, spare no effort.

Another Baffling Point in today’s Gospel:  It says, “If two of you agree and pray about anything it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” 

My friends, we all know there have been countless times when two or more sincere, prayerful people have gathered in prayer for the recovery of a sick person or other meaningful reason and that prayer has not been granted.  The person didn’t recover, maybe even died. 

What Matthew was conveying was that Jesus was making two points about prayer: 

• The value of praying in community, even if it’s a community of two people.

• Trusting in God when we pray.  If what we prayed for was not granted, it doesn’t mean that God didn’t answer our prayer.  But, we can be assured that God is with us during these troubling times.  God’s plan is always better than our plan, even if we can’t see it at the time.

My friends, another “gem” of wisdom is in our Second Reading from St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans:

“Owe nothing to anyone.”  Wow, talk about words of wisdom, especially in these difficult economic times.  Everything is so expensive – food, gas, utilities, mortgage or rent payment, car payment, and then there’s the credit card(s). 

When I was growing up, I heard my father say many, many times:  “If you want to have real peace of mind, don’t owe anything – to anyone.  That’s peace of mind.”  My dad grew up during the Great Depression in the 1930s when it was a blessing just to have enough food to eat for the day.

I also remember him talking about credit cards:  “If it isn’t a necessity, don’t buy it with a credit card.   “If you don’t have the money now and charge something with a credit card, you have to make payments.  So why not make payments to yourself in a savings account and then go out and buy it when you have the money ?  Earn the interest instead of paying interest.” 

The older I became, the more I understood his practical wisdom. 

My friends, difficult economic times are not new.  They existed in St. Paul’s time and throughout history.  Our hope is to somehow navigate through difficult times and take to heart the words of wisdom from St. Paul:  “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” 

St. John wrote “Love One Another” countless times in his gospel and letters.

Jesus tells us that His Greatest Commandment is to “Love One Another.”

And, the essence of today’s Gospel is reconciliation, which is so important and necessary if we are to Love One Another.