Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for this weekend's gatherings of the people of faith. The scripture passages present us with the delicate situation of fraternal correction, and Jesus offers some words of advice.
The first week of classes for elementary students is now complete. Only a few days into the new school year, they are already getting used to new teachers and new surroundings. Some of the formal lessons have begun, and some of the unstructured learning has already taken place. No matter how old we are, there are always lessons to be learned. Even in a place such as this, there are lessons being taught.
The gospel passage we have heard today is the continuation of Saint Matthew’s account of the wisdom that Jesus shared with his disciples. By this point in the story, Jesus is in the midst of a discussion with his disciples and he comes to a rather touchy subject: how to correct someone who is in error. Whether with friends or relatives, pointing out an error in judgement or simply drawing attention to some needed correction can always be a touchy subject. As with everything else, Jesus tells us that correction should be done in a spirit of great charity and love. In fact, he outlines in great detail a number of steps that should be followed, always with the good of the other as the greatest objective.
If your brother or sister sins against you … or wrongs you in any way, Jesus says that we should be quick to point out the fault when you are alone. In this way, Jesus shows us the high level of regard that we should always strive to have for the dignity of others: try first to point out a wrongdoing in a setting that wouldn’t expose the fault to public scrutiny. If that attempt fails, take one or two others along with you and confront the wrongdoer in a setting where the admonition can be verified by others. Even in this case though, we must be careful to choose the witnesses wisely. Correction when done out of love is never meant to harm, and every attempt should be made to correct a fault before allowing the hurt that is inflicted to be the cause of drastic action that we might someday regret.
The book of Ezekiel contains evidence to show us that God’s concern for the dignity of all creation has been a long-standing principle. The Lord said to Ezekiel: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. In these words, he confides to Ezekiel the task of calling the people of his day to justice. In the same way, God calls mothers and fathers to teach their children … and if the need should arise, to correct them when they are at fault. The relationship between peers is different from the relationship between parents and their children, yet Jesus cautions his disciples that although they are equals in some respects, they should also have the fortitude to recognize the need for correction, and the courage to challenge each other if the need should arise. It’s never easy to challenge someone, especially when we know that they have done something wrong. The society around us holds the rights of the individual in very high esteem, but if the rights of an individual trump the place of fraternal correction offered in love, then our society and everything it stands for would truly be in a sad state.
In the fourth century, Saint Augustine called his listeners to strive always to be disciples of Jesus, citizens of the cities and towns in which we live, abiding by all the rules that are outlined by society, but above and beyond this, disciples of Jesus are also citizens of the city of God. This is the reason why Saint Paul encouraged the Christians living in Rome to owe no one anything, except to love one another. Love will never lead us astray. Love will never lead to wrongdoing. Love is always at the root of true happiness. Acts of love are always destined to bring joy to the heart. Even correction when necessary can be carried out in a spirit of love. If love is our guiding principle, then we will always have a special concern for the dignity of the other person at heart.
The next time you recognize a mistake that you yourself have made, be quick to take the blame and find the first opportunity to set things right again. The next time you find yourself in a situation where you recognize a fault or a wrongdoing on the part of someone else, stop for a moment. Say a prayer for that person. Ask Jesus to show you how to address the situation in a spirit of love.
Lessons in discipleship
The first week of classes for elementary students is now complete. Only a few days into the new school year, they are already getting used to new teachers and new surroundings. Some of the formal lessons have begun, and some of the unstructured learning has already taken place. No matter how old we are, there are always lessons to be learned. Even in a place such as this, there are lessons being taught.
The gospel passage we have heard today is the continuation of Saint Matthew’s account of the wisdom that Jesus shared with his disciples. By this point in the story, Jesus is in the midst of a discussion with his disciples and he comes to a rather touchy subject: how to correct someone who is in error. Whether with friends or relatives, pointing out an error in judgement or simply drawing attention to some needed correction can always be a touchy subject. As with everything else, Jesus tells us that correction should be done in a spirit of great charity and love. In fact, he outlines in great detail a number of steps that should be followed, always with the good of the other as the greatest objective.
If your brother or sister sins against you … or wrongs you in any way, Jesus says that we should be quick to point out the fault when you are alone. In this way, Jesus shows us the high level of regard that we should always strive to have for the dignity of others: try first to point out a wrongdoing in a setting that wouldn’t expose the fault to public scrutiny. If that attempt fails, take one or two others along with you and confront the wrongdoer in a setting where the admonition can be verified by others. Even in this case though, we must be careful to choose the witnesses wisely. Correction when done out of love is never meant to harm, and every attempt should be made to correct a fault before allowing the hurt that is inflicted to be the cause of drastic action that we might someday regret.
The book of Ezekiel contains evidence to show us that God’s concern for the dignity of all creation has been a long-standing principle. The Lord said to Ezekiel: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. In these words, he confides to Ezekiel the task of calling the people of his day to justice. In the same way, God calls mothers and fathers to teach their children … and if the need should arise, to correct them when they are at fault. The relationship between peers is different from the relationship between parents and their children, yet Jesus cautions his disciples that although they are equals in some respects, they should also have the fortitude to recognize the need for correction, and the courage to challenge each other if the need should arise. It’s never easy to challenge someone, especially when we know that they have done something wrong. The society around us holds the rights of the individual in very high esteem, but if the rights of an individual trump the place of fraternal correction offered in love, then our society and everything it stands for would truly be in a sad state.
In the fourth century, Saint Augustine called his listeners to strive always to be disciples of Jesus, citizens of the cities and towns in which we live, abiding by all the rules that are outlined by society, but above and beyond this, disciples of Jesus are also citizens of the city of God. This is the reason why Saint Paul encouraged the Christians living in Rome to owe no one anything, except to love one another. Love will never lead us astray. Love will never lead to wrongdoing. Love is always at the root of true happiness. Acts of love are always destined to bring joy to the heart. Even correction when necessary can be carried out in a spirit of love. If love is our guiding principle, then we will always have a special concern for the dignity of the other person at heart.
The next time you recognize a mistake that you yourself have made, be quick to take the blame and find the first opportunity to set things right again. The next time you find yourself in a situation where you recognize a fault or a wrongdoing on the part of someone else, stop for a moment. Say a prayer for that person. Ask Jesus to show you how to address the situation in a spirit of love.
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