Ignoring Jesus
Welcome to another episode of ignoring stuff that Jesus said.
Sometimes it seems like social media is little more than an outrage machine. Where everything you see is someone reacting negatively to something.
Whether it’s an obvious spittle-flecked rant. Or it’s done as a meme. Or it’s a joke that isn’t really a joke. The spirit behind it’s the same.
The reactions these things get? They’re either mindless shares. Or mocking.
Which just creates more outrage. Followed by more reactions. Like a machine that would go of itself.
While our current tech-driven version is relatively new, the outrage machine (and our love of it) is as old as humanity.
To our love of the outrage machine, Jesus has this to say, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”
Not “If your brother sins against you, lash out in anger.”
Not “If your brother sins against you, mock him.”
Not even “If your brother sins against you, correct him in public.” Not at first.
Today’s Gospel tells us the steps to take, before ever correcting someone in public.
Most of us ignore those steps. And go right to the public part.
We dump the correction part. Because anger and mocking are a lot easier. And a lot more fun.
We like the rush of the outrage machine way too much to waste our time with all of that Jesus stuff.
But if the words of Jesus ever do get through to us? We’re pretty good at rationalizing them away.
“I’m just telling it like it is.”
Don’t kid yourself.
“I’m just doing it to see how people react.”
No, you’re not.
“It’s just somebody on the Internet.”
Just somebody made in the likeness and image of God. Just somebody who Jesus looks at and says, “even if you’re the only one who needs saving, Good Friday would still happen.”
Which gets us to the whole point of Jesus non-public spectacle approach. To why Jesus says, “If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.”
Jesus’ approach isn’t about being better or better informed than someone. Or even about being right. Much less the addictive pull of the outrage machine. And make no mistake, it is addictive.
Jesus’ approach is all about saving people. About restoring relationships.
About things that can never be achieved with anger or mockery. Things that the outrage machine can never give us.
Jesus’ approach is all about doing it the only way that ever works in the long run.
In the love of God.
Today’s Readings
