Correcting in love, Praying as one
Listening the Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listening the Word: Matthew 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."
Reflection
This Sunday we are invited to do fraternal correction as an act of charity, as an act of love for our brothers and sisters. It is very difficult to correct others because we may fear that they will take the opportunity to correct us as well. It is not that the way the Lord wants, we must learn to correct our brothers and sisters out of charity, not by showing that they are sinners and we are not. But it is a way to help them to be better persons.
In the Second reading we heard that “the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Indeed, we have the example of Jesus who was able to forgive people who persecuted Him and to correct people, especially those who thought they had the authority of judging other people because of their social position, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. Nowadays, we see many parents who are able to correct their children because they love them. In some moments they have the chance to stop them from doing wrong things.
At the same time, this week we are invited to notice that prayer in community is very important, the gospel tells us “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.” It is good news for everyone, community prayer is very important. The community in the families, in the church. When we go to mass and pray together our heavenly Father will listen to our prayer. When we ask God to help us follow the example of Jesus,THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US (OUR FATHER) IS NOT TO DO WHAT WE WANT BUT TO DO THE WILL OF GOD INSTEAD. HE TAUGHT US TO ASK FOR STRENGTH TO DO HIS WILL NOT OUR WILL.
Reflection Questions
- When I see someone I love making a mistake, do I correct them with humility and love, seeking their good, or do I judge and criticize them to prove that I am right?
- How can I grow in the practice of praying together with my family and community, seeking not simply my own desires but the will of God?
