Today’s Gospel Text: "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. 16 But if he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the
evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 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. 18 Truly,
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. 19 Again
I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be
done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of
them." Matt
18:15-20
Reflection: One
of the lessons we learn from this paragraph of scripture is that of
forgiveness.
But
there are other lessons too and one of them is the Christian attitude towards
morality, ethics and the importance of education and teaching people the right
doctrine.
The
task that Jesus enjoins on us is not an easy one; imagine, the brother who sins against you is
that wild one, the notorious type who may come back to trample you under his
foot for having given him the pearl of a good advice on good behavior. (cfr. Mt. 7:6)
That
would always be difficult but scripture always teaches us the extremes of love “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends.” John 15:13
Jesus
did it perfectly on the cross and likewise his dedicated disciples.
We
as Christians are called to teach the world the morality of living, which
primarily begins with teaching ourselves first in the school of Christ, who
still teaches us the way of God:
But
the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will
teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you. John 14:26 (cfr. 1 Jn. 2:27)
It is only after we have learned in this school, with the
tradition, scripture and magisterium to enable us that we can be instruments to
correct our brothers and sisters when in the wrong.
If anyone thinks that this is like acting superior then they
are self-conceited and do not understand the revealed word of God; Jesus
Christ.
They could be termed as pseudo-disciples or
pseudo-Christians working like fifth columns as Satan’s instrument to destroy
the church of Christ.
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of
the Lord is.”
Eph 5:17
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the anointing you give
us, may we always seek to learn from what you have given us.
DD = Dedicated
Discipleship: Come grow
in the Lord with us
