Fraternal Correction

The WORD today reminds me that correction should be founded in love. 

One should confront not to blame or find fault, but to heal and improve. 

This should be our attitude when we confront others. We should not confront or find fault to humiliate others, or to show that we are better than them. We should confront to show love. To help others improve and be better. This is what God wants us to do, and this is how he wants us to deal with others.

It is easy to find fault in others. And if there is hate, or bitterness towards the person, it is easy to broadcast the fault in the person. Some can disguise it as concern, but it actually can be done in bad faith. It is easy to call out the mistake, especially when there are other people witnessing. However, this should not be done as we relate to others.

Correction should be founded on love.

The gospel shows us the anchor verse on fraternal correction. This is how correction or confrontation should be done. In secret first – bring it to the attention of the person directly. Then if nothing is done, call other witnesses, or people who has authority. Then if the person still does not listen, bring it to the church. Then if nothing is done, then it is probably the person making a decision to be outcast from others.

Correction should not be done to humiliate, but should be an expression of love - to let others know we love them too much to let them stay that way. That we want to genuinely help to improve them. 

May we be reminded how to treat confrontation, and as we confront others, may our actions always be founded on love. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I am quick to judge others. Sorry for the times I silently rejoice in the sins and imperfections of others. Sorry for being quick to point out the imperfections of others. Help me be like you. help me see them as you see me. Help me forgive them as you always forgive me. Help me love them as you tirelessly love me. May my actions always be founded on love. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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August 16, 2017
Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 415

Reading 1DT 34:1-12

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo,
the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho,
and the LORD showed him all the land—
Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali,
the land of Ephraim and Manasseh,
all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,
the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordan
with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms,
and as far as Zoar.
The LORD then said to him, 
"This is the land
which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
that I would give to their descendants.
I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over."
So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD,
died as the LORD had said; and he was buried in the ravine
opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab,
but to this day no one knows the place of his burial.
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died,
yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated.
For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Moses
in the plains of Moab, till they had completed
the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom,
since Moses had laid his hands upon him;
and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience,
thus carrying out the LORD's command to Moses.

Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses,
whom the LORD knew face to face.
He had no equal in all the signs and wonders
the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt
against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land,
and for the might and the terrifying power
that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel.

Responsorial PsalmPS 66:1-3A, 5 AND 8, 16-17

R. (see 20a and 10b) Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"
R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
Bless our God, you peoples; 
loudly sound his praise.
R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare 
what he has done for me.
When I appealed to him in words,
praise was on the tip of my tongue.
R. Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Alleluia2 COR 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
And entreating to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 18:15-20

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.
If he does not listen, 
take one or two others along with you,
so that every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."