Marked bound and loosed

The events of the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present a clear contrast between the lives of people who are caught up in what Nancy Shirley describes as idolatrous behaviour in which we place God at a lesser priority than power, privilege, pleasure, people and things in our life. The Prophet Ezekiel describes the dire consequences for those people in his time who were not marked with the “tau” as the angels of death invade Jerusalem. The Gospel from Matthew contains text the interpretation of which is debated across Christianity. “Binding and loosing” are understood in a range of ways from determining liturgical practices and procedures to setting the “bound” to eternal damnation. Unfortunately, the brother with whom we have a difficulty in this passage from the Gospel may also be a disciple of Christ. The healing power of prayer is experienced by all believers. In gathering in prayer, we open ourselves to the Presence of Jesus and we are receptive to the verses of Dan Schutte cited by Nancy Shirley which in Ignatian spirituality seek nothing more than the love and grace of God.