Creating a New World

The Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026

September 6, 2026

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Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

 

 

The Gospel passage speaks about the necessity and the mystery of reconciliation. Too often, we hear about forgiveness and we think it is a quick, magnanimous action to take. This passage is about so much more. Forgiveness is something I can choose to give to another person. Reconciliation is something two people must build together.

 

Many people have trouble with forgiveness because they have been taught that it is a singular act to be completed in one sitting. That is not so. Forgiveness has many layers and dimensions to it. We also have a notion that forgiveness is all or nothing, and we end up choosing nothing and we cause such great chasms in our relationships. How many of us are estranged from someone important in our lives? We are wrongly taught that forgiveness means to overlook a transgression or to act as though an action has not occurred. That is not true either. When we forgive, we make room for God to transform the wound rather than allowing the wound to transform us. It is our free choice.

 

Forgiveness says, “I release you from my need for revenge.” Reconciliation says, “Let us see whether we can rebuild what was broken.” Christian love says, “Whether or not we are reconciled, I will not stop praying for your good. I still want the best for you.”

 

As we are reflective people, we can ask ourselves, “What does Jesus actually ask of me when someone has hurt me?” It is good to acknowledge the hurt to Jesus in prayer and say, “I will not allow what you did to me to determine the kind of person I want to become.” I can surrender my anger to God and I can stop demanding that the other person suffer because I have suffered. We will face many times when the other person will not apologize or acknowledge their hurtful words or actions. Forgiveness is a gradual process, and I have to move forward.

 

Reconciliation requires the participation of at least two people because it aims to restore a broken relationship. It is hard work and requires some level of truth, acknowledgment, repentance, trust, and a promise of changed behavior. There has to be some glimmer of wanting to rebuild trust. Reconciliation does not return to the past status quo. While forgiveness looks backwards, reconciliation looks forward. We have to decide what might have to change for us to move forward together with the existing wounds. Reconciliation creates something new – a relationship built on a stronger foundation of honesty and a deeper awareness of each other’s vulnerability.  

 

 

God forgives us all the time. God calls us into right relationships that reconcile through mercy. Forgiveness is freely offered by God with an outstretched hand and a desire for us to step forward. Reconciliation happens when we reach back to God. Reconciliation is the courageous work of rebuilding trust, telling the truth, accepting responsibility, and creating a new future together. Reconciliation helps us transcend our human condition and we create something far beyond what we could imagine. What is the type of world in which we want to live? What is the new creation of our dreams? God believes this is possible. What do you believe?