Comments on: Monday, September 7, 2020 Corrections

By: Skip

Skip — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 13:51:20 +0000

Thank you Mary and Baker very much appreciate your input.

By: Baker

Baker — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:20:31 +0000

The New American Bible includes this footnote: “Deliver this man to Satan: once the sinner is expelled from the church, the sphere of Jesus’ lordship and victory over sin, he will be in a region outside, over which Satan is still master. For the destruction of the flesh: the purpose of the penalty is medicinal: through affliction sin’s grip over him may be destroyed and the path to repentance and reunion laid open.” I found this verse puzzling as well. Reflection on this note together with a short note on the ensuing verse prove helpful.

By: Mary Ortwein

Mary Ortwein — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 17:54:57 +0000

I think (not sure, didn’t read anything on it), to be thrown out of the community for sinning would equate his being given over to the power of evil, i.e. Satan. Thoughts from others?
Mary

By: Skip

Skip — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 17:34:56 +0000

Mary, thank you for your response. It was enlightening.
However what I am confused about is

“then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”
The power of the of our Lord to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and His Spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
Handed over to Satan? I don’t understand.
Thank you in advance.

By: Mary Ortwein

Mary Ortwein — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:37:41 +0000

Skip,
Those are stern words, aren’t they? I had not paid attention to that before either, and I didn’t find a lot on it. What I found out I alluded to in the writing: there was no Sacrament of Reconciliation, so if a person seriously sinned, they were cast out of the community. This was mostly done when people, during persecution, denied the faith, then, when persecution lessened, wanted to return to the community. The church struggled with that for a while, eventually permitting a bishop to pronounce forgiveness, give a hefty penance, and eventually let the person return to the community. Apparently, it was to also be done in this case.

The commentary I read said that the goal was that being cast out was to provide a clear picture to the person of the level of his evil and thus lead to repentance. My sources were commentaries in the Didache RSV Bible and Jerome commentary.

Actually, to a certain extent, some of the controversy between Pope Francis and conservative groups that arose out of Laudato Si is really about this: How do we handle people who are not disposed to receive communion because of sin which is known to the community? Do we welcome or maintain them into the community, recognizing they are not able to receive communion, but nurturing and guiding them where they are….or do we make them unwelcome? Those who choose the “unwelcome” route can site this passage in St. Paul.
Mary Ortwein

By: Gloria

Gloria — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:21:37 +0000

Thank you for your reflection on today’s reading! I am thankful that your insight open up my eyes to God’s word. Love your story of your grandson’t teacher! Have a wonderful and blessed day!

By: Skip

Skip — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:05:44 +0000

Hi Mary, thank you for your reflection.
I don’t recall ever reading this part of Paul’s letter and don’t quite understand. Would you or anyone elaborate please.

“When you are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and I am spiritually present with you, then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.”

By: Seamus

Seamus — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:49:32 +0000

Well interpreted Mary. Thank you for your reflection today.
It also reminds me of the phrase “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”
Peace and harmony……….