Wednesday, August 14, 2002
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Ezk 9:1-7; 10:18-22
Gospel: Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples, "If your brother or sister has sinned
against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are in private,
and if he listens to you, you have won your brother. If you are not listened
to, take with you one or two others so that the case may be decided by
the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he still refuses to listen
to them, tell it to the assembled Church. But if he does not listen to
the Church, then regard such a one as a pagan or a publican.
I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and
whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound.
In like manner, I say to you: if on earth two of you are united in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them."
Commentary
Fraternal correction is one of the most effective tools for human and spiritual growth. We all are to be in solidarity, working for the good of all. As members of a Christian community we abandon the Old Testament individualism of "Am I my brother's keeper?"(Gen 4:9) and are bound to help each other in pursuit of holiness. Jesus tells his disciples how to correct a brother or sister who has done wrong: talk to the person concerned in private. If the person does not listen to you, call for one or two companions as witnesses. If he still refuses to listen, you can inform the assembled community. Jesus doesn't institute a structure for reconciliation, he emphasizes the community spirit that makes us feel responsible for one another. Fraternal correction and public penance were common in the early church.