RSS FeedClick here for the Mass Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 4, 2011 - (Year A):
"Jesus said to his disciples: 'If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.'" (Mt 18: 15)
Correction: It's not pleasant to receive, and it can be very tough to give. What is more, in a morally relativistic (or an "I'm okay, you're okay") society, correction can be misconstrued as being judgmental and considered offensive. And yet we see Jesus outline in this Sunday's Gospel a very specific three-step process of correction designed to bring about conversion and reconciliation. Since this particular Gospel passage can be difficult to understand, I'll make a few comments about the actual text and also offer some simple points we can take away from this Sunday's readings for personal reflection.Context: That's the first important key. This Sunday's Gospel (Mt 18:15-20) is immediately preceded by the parable of the Lost Sheep, which is given to show the great lengths and pain God will undergo to retrieve and save one person. That parable provides the underlying spirit and motivation behind all true Christian correction. As we see, Jesus' understanding of correction does not derive from impatience or annoyance, nor does it spring from a spirit of nit-picking, nagging, or condemnation; it is truly "fraternal". Fraternal correction is meant to be a reflection of God's solicitude for each of us; it's ultimate aim is salvation. In this sense, fraternal correction seeks to undo Cain's flippant response to God: "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer to that question is "yes, you are!" We are responsible to one another; we are brothers and sisters in Christ, and we cannot accept a mentality that induces us to live like children of Cain.
Critical: This is the next point worth highlighting. The three-step process of correction Jesus outlines in the Gospel indicates that He is speaking about something absolutely critical - the person's sinful actions are clearly grave and leading him or her away from salvation, and the community must respond in love. The Lord isn't speaking about some trivial sin which can be overlooked, but something deadly. The fact that the second step in the process involves 2 or 3 witnesses is meant to help the person realize the gravity of his or her situation and bring about repentance. Just as parents refuse to remain silent if they see their children playing on a busy street, so we cannot stand idly by and fall silent as a fellow disciple wanders off into eternal danger. There are undeniably appropriate and inappropriate times and ways to correct someone, but one thing is for sure, we cannot be afraid of being a true brother or sister in Christ to those around us.
On another note, I am personally indebted to the people who have corrected me at various points in my life. Usually they were pointing out flaws of which I was previously unaware. I have grown much thanks to those admittedly difficult, but graced conversations. Although the corrections were not easy at the time, it was easy to perceive the sincere love and kindness of these people. And a willingness on their part to pray and be available to help in any way possible always provided added inspiration to take their corrections to heart. They have been true brothers and sisters to me and have taught me the unforeseen value of fraternal correction - something we all need to learn to receive and be willing to administer with immeasurable love if the need presents itself.
I pray that all of us may weigh carefully the teaching Christ gives us in this Sunday's Gospel, and that He grant us strength to be open to the truth, and open to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Have a blessed Sunday!
(Photo of the "Amicitia Spiritualis" courtesy of Dcn. Lawrence Lew, O.P.)
