“Jesus said to his disciples:

‘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,

so that ‘every fact may be established

on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. 

If he refuses to listen even to the church,

then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.’”

I love the big ideas and sweeping themes of the Bible and theology. We heard one last week, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” I love that! But, I also love the imminently practical guidance offered in the Bible. Jesus does so today. What do you do if somebody, especially someone in the church, wrongs you? Go talk to that person! Give an opportunity for open communication, resolution of differences, and reconciliation. Too often, I’m tempted to nurse my wounds, seek sympathy from others, talk bad about someone behind their back, or stew in my anger. When I give in, regrettably, my actions do not lead to unity or peace, but to division, suspicion, distrust, and a simmering internal conflict waiting to erupt. It’s hard to build the kingdom of God when that’s the environment!

Jesus is concerned in today’s gospel about communion, building a true oneness of mind and heart to do the will of God. Resolving conflict (there will always be conflict), agreeing in prayer, and gathering in his name lead to unity and true communion. Notice that direct communication with the one who has wronged you is only the first step. If there is no resolution, it moves to a slightly wider circle, then to a wider circle again, then to disassociation. In a sense, this principle in the church is connected to subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is the principle of Catholic Social Teaching that a decision, issues, or responsibilities should be handled at the lowest or closest organizational level possible to those who are affected. Centralized master planning and decision making about every detail is eschewed. Pope Francis doesn’t pick what songs we sing each Sunday at Mass (to be honest, neither do I), but that is as it should be. The Holy Spirit works in each of us and our structures should reflect both the stability and sustainability necessary to advance the mission of the Gospel, as well as, the freedom for each to use their gifts as they are called to do by God. Sometimes there is tension, but the answer is always to talk to each other. When we are in living communion, we are seeking the same thing and can trust that Jesus will guide us: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

In navigating issues within our own community, I encourage you to do the same. Talk to each other. Seek understanding, resolution, and reconciliation. At our Presbyteral Assembly (the annual four day gatherings of priests from the Archdiocese of Louisville) in June, Archbishop Shelton said, “To truly listen to the other, you have to be willing to change your mind. Not that that will necessarily happen, but without that willingness, you’re not really listening.” To talk with each other, we have to be willing to be changed by that encounter, not just trying to change the other. If our shared agenda is communion, not just my personal wants or desires, we may find that we ourselves are changed. When we gather, then, Jesus Christ will truly be in our midst. I love this!