Gospel – 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 on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
This gospel passage is a provocative reflection on the mystery of church.
We have the power to bind each other or to be instruments of freedom.
None of us is without fault.
Shall we forgive and free each other or shall we hold each other in captivity?
When I am at fault, shall I admit it or shall I force others to have to confront me?
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.