Fraternal Correction

Matthew 18: 1-20

 Your Brother Sins Against You

¹⁵ “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 charge may be established 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 among them.”

Very practical but very difficult advice.  Who likes to stir up the possibility of an angry response such as an accusing finger pointed at one's own faults, as in "who do you think you are to point our my faults, when your life is full of blatant shortcomings?"  We take a risk when we enter this territory, so calmness and humility, as well as the support of others are necessary. When we think of how the person might improve his or her life because of our intervention,  we begin to see how it is important not to hold back. Prayerful preparation for the guidance of the Holy Spirit is an important ingredient in a task we hope will not happen too often.  Often enough, love for our brother or sister is costly, but worth the price.

Bro. Rene