[stephenkhoo]

THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO SCANDALS IN OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: WIS 1:1-7; LK 17:1-6
http://www.universalis.com/20131111/mass.htm

Besides prayer and a deep relationship with the Lord, what is it that can help to strengthen our faith? The good examples and inspiration that we receive from fellow faith believers! Because faith is imparted and lived within a community, the faith of others will surely affect us. For good reason, the Church constantly holds up the faith of her saintly members, the saints, and the holy lives of priests, religious and exemplary lay people to inspire us in our faith. As is often said, today we need living witnesses more than preachers.

Conversely, when we lead a lifestyle that is overly worldly and secular, it becomes difficult for others to believe that God or Christ can make a difference in their lives. We must not forget that all of us are called to be role models and witnesses of faith for others in our own ways. And the undeniable truth is that we all have failed in some ways and have become obstacles to the faith of others because of our negligence or lack of propriety in the way we conduct our lives. The obstacle is not just in the act itself, but the gravity of it is related to the position we hold in society. The higher the office we hold, the more would be expected of and from us. People are always watching us just like the Pharisees who kept constant critical watch on Jesus. Thus, Jesus in the gospel today warns His disciples, “Watch yourselves!” lest we become obstacles to the faith of others.

The question that confronts us is, how do we deal with scandals in our Christian community? There are two perspectives we can look at, from the view of the one who caused the scandals; and from those of us who are being scandalized. From the one who caused the scandals, Jesus appeals to us to be more watchful. We are called to be more conscious of the responsibility we have in the way we live our lives. We are all witnessing for Christ and His Church.

Consequently, to cause a scandal is a sin against charity as the first reading implied. This is because of the fact that in every community there are some of us who are weaker in faith than others. They are the “little ones” mentioned in the gospel. These little ones of course are not only “weak” children who are impressionable, but include all those who have a weak faith and are easily shaken or influenced for good or for bad. To lead such “weak” people astray by our unbecoming behaviour is such a serious failure in love that made Jesus remark, “It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone put round his neck than he should led astray a single one of these little ones.” This statement must not be misinterpreted as Jesus condemning those who cause scandals but is certainly meant to highlight the gravity of our actions. By influencing others wrongly or placing doubts in their growing, fragile and weak faith, they may become disillusioned and lose their faith in God and in life; even in the virtues of love and honesty.

However for those of us who are being scandalized, then the Lord invites us to go beyond the bad examples of others. We are called to grow in faith. This was what the apostles requested of Jesus; “Increase our faith.” In other words, the apostles were saying to Jesus, “Do not let our failures or the scandals of others break our faith and make us lose hope in God, in man and in goodness.” What kind of faith is therefore necessary to be able to withstand such scandals that are present in our lives and in our community?

It is a faith that is filled with charity and compassion. Hence, in the gospel Jesus exhorts the disciples to forgive those who have sinned. It must be noted that the invitation to forgive is not given only to those who sinned against us, but first and foremost to the one who has done something wrong even if he did not sin directly against us. Only then, did Jesus speak about forgiveness to those who have offended us. This forgiveness to a brother who has failed in his Christian living is unlimited since Jesus said, “If he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I am sorry’, you must forgive him.” Indeed, Jesus knows how weak we are and that all of us need forgiveness without exception. We need to be “reproved”, that is to be corrected, enlightened and be forgiven.

Consequently, to those who have caused scandals, the Christian approach is not condemnation but to feel sorry for them and to pray that the Lord will grant them real repentance. We must not condemn them but instead, we must seek to correct them, show them the truth and the light; and to forgive them as well if they show repentance. Why? Because forgiveness is only meaningful to those who know that they have done something wrong. At the same time, we must not be overly severe because all of us have sinned against each other. Our concern is to restore them to fellowship with us since we are all parts of the body of Christ. By urging them to repentance and conversion, we restore them to fellowship, and every sinner converted means a gain for the Church, not only in number but in terms of witnessing. It is therefore motivated by love and unity.

On our part, we must learn from others’ mistakes and failures so that we will be more careful with regard to our own lives and conduct. So we do not rejoice in their failures but learn from them and pray that we might not fall into disrepute ourselves or cause others to sin. Before we condemn others, we must realize that we have failed as well, in various different aspects.

In the final analysis however, we must not forget that our faith is ultimately faith in Christ, not in frail and fallible human beings. We have only one Master who, although divine and yet human, has conquered every temptation. Thus our lives must be rooted in Christ’s own example and not on our fellow human beings. It is in Christ that we find true wisdom, inspiration, life and love. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. All others are only trying to imitate Christ and thus only poor reflections of Christ. For this reason, poor sinners as we are, we cannot expect our fellow Christians to be perfect like Jesus.

Hence, even when we experience scandals in our Christian community, we must not give up faith in God easily. We need not feel discouraged simply because some of us have failed to live up to our calling as Christians. We trust that God is able to write straight in crooked lines. d saints, He understands our human weakness and He graces us to overcome them. Thus, He allows scandalous people to exist in our community so that those who are stronger in their faith can restore them back to the fold. In this way, in a community of sinners anall of us will eventually return to the family of God and be reunited in love.

So today, let us pray that we will be more watchful of ourselves. At the same time, let us pray for those of us who failed to live up to their calling and responsibilities. We pray that the Spirit of God will grant them wisdom and holiness so that they become more aware of the harm they are doing not only to themselves but to others, especially the “little ones” in the Church, making them lose faith in God, truth and goodness; and how by their bad examples, are leading others to sin with them. Finally, let us pray for a spirit of forgiveness and compassion; and most of all, the grace and opportunity to bring them to conversion, for the good of ourselves, the Church and for them.