What mark do I bear?

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 19th week in Ordinary time

August 12, 2020: Ezekiel 9: 1-7, 10, 18-22; Matthew 18: 15-20

the Arabic character 'nun' as the starting letter of nazarani a derogatory term
used by the ISIS and other anti Christian forces, to refer to the Christians,
as follower of Christ (who was called the Nazarene)

Do you remember to have seen this symbol? Some years back this was so familiar all over the media... during the time when the Christians in Iraq were targeted and persecuted. They were being butchered for the mere reason that they were Christians...and how were they identified and indicated to each other by those who were targeting them? This symbol or sign was drawn or spray painted on the doors of the houses of Christians, to tell the plunderers and soldiers that those houses are accessible at will. The Christians were made to live in constant fear and anxiety. Similar things happened even during the Nazi targeting of the Jews and other historical contexts.

In the first reading today we see in the vision of Ezekiel, the angels were given a symbol on the forehead of people, by which they are spared! That is a manifestation of mercy by God! Jesus too gives a mark by which we will be known as people of God...the mark of loving forgiveness. "By this they will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). 

In the Gospel today, Jesus explains what this 'having love for one another' is. It is to forgive, to care for each other and above all to pray together, with one heart and mind. This is the mark that Jesus expects of us, as our identity, as a sign that saves us! It is not those who call him 'Lord Lord' who would be saved but those who do the will of the Father (Mt 7:21), Jesus would say. The sign that can save us is our life of daily forgiveness and undying love.

"If they arrested you today for being a Christian, will they find enough evidence for that when they prosecute you?" - that is a very strong question indeed for us to reflect today! What the marks that I bear in my daily life to tell my self and the world, that I am a disciple of Christ?