Ezekiel 33:7-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20
THE ART OF FRATERNAL CORRECTION
By our baptism, we have become members of the family of God. As brothers and sisters, we must be concerned about the welfare of one another and promote the stability and peaceful coexistence in our families, work places, parishes, etc. As such, St Paul exhorts us to have no debt, except the debt of mutual love, for love is the summary of all the commandments, or better still, the measure of everything (Rom. 13:8-10). If love consists in seeking the good of the other, then we must seek the good, safety and salvation of our brothers and sisters. We need to become each one's keeper so that none of us goes astray or gets lost. And if one does, we have the responsibility to bring him back to the right path.
Thus, the first reading reminds us that we have been appointed as "sentries", that is guards or watchmen, in our respective communities (Ez. 33:7-9). A sentry is a symbol of security. Day and night, he is concerned about the safety of others. He warns them of an impending danger and the possible consequences of their actions.
In the gospel, Jesus offers us a three-stage procedure for dealing with a brother or a sister who has gone astray or has done "something wrong.” This is what we call the art of fraternal correction. Fraternal correction demands charity, humility and prudence. It excludes arrogance, prying, accusing and condemning attitudes. It aims at helping the wrongdoer to amend his ways and reintegrate the community. Separation and exclusion should be the last resort, when all efforts aimed at winning back the brother or sister prove futile (Matt. 18:15-20).
Unfortunately, we usually adopt diverse attitudes towards the wrongdoer. Either we blow the trumpet around informing everybody about the wrong done or we keep quiet out of fear. Often too we wait for the offender to come and apologize. But as we can see, Jesus is teaching us a different approach. We must make the first step towards reconciliation whenever the bond of love and mutual understanding has been broken. This is not easy, since some people are incorrigible. Only God can assist us; hence the importance of prayer. Therefore, let us implore him to soften our hearts to be open to corrections and be ready for reconciliation. May he teach us to correct one another in truth and justice. Amen
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