FRATERNAL CORRECTION

Matthew 18:15

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother…”

Reading through the gospel today, I realized that I am missing on one of my responsibility as a follower of Christ – that is, fraternal correction. This means correction of faults by private individuals who do not have an official duty to correct. In the Church this would include such peer to peer correction as priest to priest, or laity to laity, as well as the correction of the clergy by the laity, or higher clergy by lower.

Part of a virtuous response is giving correction to the sinner for the sake of the common good. Such correction is absolutely necessary for the good of a society, whether the family, the Church or the nation. Without it, men would continue to do evil without rebuke, leading others into sin and depriving society of justice, charity and peace. Correction means pointing out the objective evil of sin. It does not mean judging the culpability, or condemning, the person committing the sin.

We always think - I cannot do this because I am afraid. I cannot do this because I think he will not listen anyway. I cannot do this because I do not really care. I cannot do this because I know that I still have a lot of things to correct in myself, too. Therefore, start with people close to your heart. Each of us has been given the delicate office of guiding and sometimes correcting the ones we are responsible for. True charity seeks the salvation of one's brother and desires the removal of any obstacle to salvation, among which ranks serious sin. I have to do this. I have to start with myself. If God is with me, then who would be against me.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, You have shown us the way to You. May I not be selfish enough that I keep this promise of salvation to myself. Teach me to share them with others who would need the same mercy and love.

Amen +

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.