THE WEAKEST LINK IN THE ARMOR OF GOD...
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone...." (Mt.18:15-20).
"...put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. Stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:13-17).
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, the apostle discusses the Armor of God. Interestingly, when studying the Armor of God, I discovered a weak link in our armor that could hinder spiritual growth. This weak link can make us prideful, arrogant, and even narcissistic. Upon close examination, you would likely agree that we require truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, and the Word of God to fortify our armor. These virtues, safeguarded by the Armor of God, enable us to face any challenges from the evil one. And yet, the weakest link in our armor is our willingness to accept or give correction.
Reflecting on how I handle correction, I find myself confused and often on the defensive. I recognize that I am a complex individual with dualistic perspectives. Is the person correcting me doing so out of love, or are they possibly jealous and trying to unsettle me? Does my tendency toward dichotomous thinking lead me to react with anger? Or should I delve deeper into my friend's criticism, contemplating whether God sent an angel to save my life? On the other hand, maybe God wants me to point out another's flaw. Hopefully, I would not do so condescendingly to save not only someone else's life, but mine too!
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The scriptures for the twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time speak to this intricate moment in our relationship with God. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells us, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him about his fault between you and him alone." Here I struggle, even with the Armor of God, my loins girded with truth and my heart clothed with righteousness. And having faith, who am I to tell someone they have sinned? Before I say something, I am reminded of the proverbial saying, "People in glass houses should not throw stones." And don't forget, "When you point your finger at someone, you have four fingers pointing back at you." Jesus challenges us even more when saying, "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."
Through self-reflection, I have concluded that, for spiritual growth, to strengthen that weak link in the Armor of God, we must practice discernment in every step we take when accepting correction or correcting someone. These three steps can certainly help us to strengthen our weakest link when accepting or giving correction:
Gathering information initially is crucial. Frequently, our biases get in the way, clouding our judgment and potentially unsettling our emotions. Without a complete understanding of the facts, we tend to make hasty conclusions. Consider whether the behavior you observe might stem from a different, unrelated issue. The more you comprehend, the more likely you are to perceive things from God's perspective instead of solely your own. Reflect before you act impulsively. Check yourself before you take that splinter out of someone else's eye.
Engage with the Scriptures through prayer. Allow them to wash your mind and create a clean heart before you speak. Scripture can inspire moral conduct and a holy imagination, guiding us in acceptance and correction, which is vital for our growth as Christians. We always need prayer to ensure we do not become a stumbling block. Prayer is a tool. By focusing on God's guidance, we can demonstrate love for our neighbors. "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rm. 13:10). Pray: "God, what are you asking and empowering me to be and do?"
Don’t overlook the need for confirmation. Take the time to listen to the Spirit of Truth. In those quiet moments, the Holy Spirit can work things out if you wait and allow the Comforter to reveal more through prayer and your personal encounter with the Scriptures. Who knows, the Holy Spirit could and can resolve the issue before you say a word and use you to confirm the truth; that could save someone's life.
In the end, hopefully, the two of you, the one accepting correction and the one giving the correction, can agree and feel the presence of God in your midst.
"remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye" (Mt. 5:7).
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