“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-18
Treat him as a gentile and a tax collector.
Gentiles and tax collectors were the lowest tier of human in Roman Israel. The tax collectors were looked upon as thieving, traitors and gentiles were maybe worse. So, Jesus was saying to treat these people with scorn and hatred. Cast them out and turn your back on them.
A modern day comparison. What would you say if you were kneeling in church preparing for Mass and a politician walked in? Not just any politician, but one who professes to be Catholic but supports agendas contrary to Catholic teaching, especially abortion. What would you be thinking? Now, take it a step further. The door opens and I walks Jesus before the full church just as Mass is beginning. I’m sure, each of us would excitedly stand as He walked down the aisle. But, Jesus walks right past you and all the other ‘righteous’ men and women in the pews to come beside the politician. He then sits beside him and draws the politician close to His side.
How would you feel? Betrayed? Scorned? I mean, how could Jesus pass me by to sit with him?
This is the story of Zacchaeus in Luke’s Gospel (chapter 19). This is the story of me and you.
“the greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1182
All it takes is a contrite heart to find this mercy. But, Jesus doesn’t let His Divine Mercy just sit there waiting to be found nor does He hide it where it has to be sought. Jesus brings His Divine Mercy to the soul and presents it as a majestic gift, asking the sinner to accept it.
Zacchaeus was the worst of sinners in his time. He admits to crimes of extortion and theft against his own people. Yet, Jesus sought him out in the tree and called him down to His side. He then brought mercy home and defended this sinner.
Would you be offended as the scribes were if Jesus walked past you in church to sit with that politician? Would you be more offended if that man put his head into Jesus’ shoulder crying tears of shame? “Don’t forgive him..don’t you know what he has done?”
No, Jesus says to treat them as the tax collector and gentile. That doesn’t mean with scorn but with even more love and mercy. The more a person shows themselves a sinner, even a hardened sinner, the more we should reach out in prayer and deeds to them. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for their souls to be awakened. And, rejoice when Jesus approaches them in mercy.
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
“I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7
Absolutely I agree if you ask with a contrite heart for forgiveness. Thank God I did, and my journey with Christ continues. But, there is a difference the tax collector asked for forgiveness and was contrite, I don’t know of this was an attempt to imply that some of these government officials especially our current president would fall under the same example. The man is 78 years and unapologetic about his conviction about abortion. Just my humble opinion. There is a great difference.
That’s why we need to pray for them most especially. We pray the Lord’s relentless love break through the hardness of their hearts and that they find light to repent