[Catholic Caucus] The Sacred Page: Watchman on the Walls: Readings for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Dr. John BergsmaI don’t like personal conflict. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Probably most Americans do. I’m not sure what it’s like in other cultures, although I’ve heard of others where open social confrontation is more common. This Sunday’s readings deal with situations in which Christians have a duty to confront one another. They don’t make for comfortable reading in a culture that puts a high value on keeping the peace and minding one’s own business. The First Reading is the great “Watchman” passage from the prophet Ezekiel: Reading 1: Ezekiel 33:7-9Thus says the LORD: You,...