September 10, 2017

Gospel: Mt 18:15-20
If your brother has sinned against you, go and point out the fault to him, when the two of you are alone; and if he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he doesn‘t listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that the case may be decided by the evidence of two or three witnesses. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembled Church. But if he does not listen to the Church, then regard him as a pagan, or a tax collector.
I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound; and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound.
In like manner, I say to you, if, on earth, two of you agree in asking for anything, it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father; for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there, among them.“

REFLECTION:
Read: The prophet is reminded of his responsibility for the salvation of the other. We are mandated to love our neighbors, reminds Paul. Jesus talks of the need to be committed to the spiritual wellbeing of our brothers and sisters.
Reflect: As Immanuel Levinas observed, the face of the other is an ethical imperative. None of us lives in individualized, private worlds whether the other does not count. We carry a great responsibility for the spiritual good of the other. How well do we care for this mandate from Christ?
Pray: Pray for a few persons who need conversion of heart.
Act: Identify a person who needs gentle correction, and do it respectfully and lovingly.