Fraternal Correction
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”Ps. 95
The Lord exhorts us to correct one another with love and charity, for it is one of the acts of mercy that we must practice and accept when others exercise it with us. We should be aware that we often see the speck in our brother’s eye more easily than the beam in our own eye. Therefore, if we love the truth and earnestly seek holiness, we should encourage and be grateful when others correct us. Four eyes always see more than two, and the perspective of others allows us to see what we cannot see on our own because we see things partially. Just as we cannot see our own face, but others can. Let’s look at some Bible verses where God exhorts us to practice this work of spiritual charity:
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”Matthew 18:15-17
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”Titus 3:10-11
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”Galatians 6:1
“Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.”2 Thessalonians 3:15
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”2 Timothy 3:16-17
We should not judge with a human but a spiritual judgment, discerning God’s will, which should be the aspiration for all, not our own. We should not attempt to shape a church according to our human logic, as our logic is not the standard to follow and is not reliable. Our logic is fallen by nature, despite its good intentions. Man, guided by his own logic, makes many erroneous judgments daily, for we see things partially (1 Corinthians 13). By our logic, we might even deny God because we cannot see Him. We all have our unique and imperfect subjective ways of seeing things, millions of them, none of them perfect. When we make corrections, let them come from Christ and His love.
“Let no damaging talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may edify to those who hear.”Ephesians 4:29
Readings for the Week
Sunday: Ez 33:7-9/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)/Rom 13:8-10/Mt 18:15-20
Monday: Col 1:24-2:3/Ps 62:6-7, 9/Lk 6:6-11
Tuesday: Col 2:6-15/Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11/Lk 6:12-19
Wednesday: Col 3:1-11/Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab/Lk 6:20-26
Thursday: Nm 21:4b-9/Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17
Friday: 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14/Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11/In 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35
Saturday: 1 Tm 1:15-17/Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7/Lk 6:43-49
Next Sunday: Sir 27:30-28:7/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)/Rom 14:7-9/Mt 18:21-35
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time; Grandparents’ Day
Monday: Patriot Day
Tuesday: The Most Holy Name of Mary
Wednesday: St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Thursday: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Friday: Our Lady of Sorrows
Saturday: Sts. Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
Next Sunday: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Catechetical Sunday