Sunday, September 6
Matthew 18:15–20
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “If your brother sins, go and correct him privately, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that the entire matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the community; and if he refuses to listen even to the community, treat him as a Gentile or a tax collector.
I assure you that whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, I assure you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask for, my Father in heaven will grant it to them. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Commentary
Fraternal correction is both a duty and a right through which we help our brothers and sisters correct their mistakes. To correct another person, we must first recognize that they are acting wrongly.
When we hear the words “Do not judge,” we must understand them correctly. Otherwise, we would not be able to express an opinion about someone's behavior, much less correct them. That would be absurd.
The Bible commands us to correct others, yet it also tells us that we must not judge. Judging people and judging their actions are two different things.
In the Bible, God alone is the ultimate judge because He determines a person's destiny: this one lives, this one dies, this one is set free...
However, when we speak of judging actions, we mean recognizing that someone is acting wrongly. Jesus judges the actions of the Pharisees when He tells them that they are behaving hypocritically.
By helping people recognize the wrong they are doing, we give them an opportunity to correct themselves.
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Do I correct others out of love or out of pride?
Can I distinguish between judging actions and condemning people?
Whom do I need to correct with humility and charity today?
Author: Lucio Nontol T.O.R
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