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."
Dawg's Thought:
Today's prayer intention - for the education system, that they may uphold the dignity of the human person and the dignity of marriage.
When I think about the people in my life who has hurt me the most, I think of those people who have hurt me multiple times. The part that hurts is that in my mind, I felt like they should have known how much they have hurt me. Instead, I carried it around.
Of course, I know in my mind that they will never know how much they have hurt me unless I tell them, but I always seem to forget. So, reconciliation does not happen, and it is through my choosing.
I always thought it would be easier to absorb the blow, but in today's reading, Christ tells us to "go and tell him his fault." How can reconciliation come if we remain silent? How can conversion come if we remain silent? ...
Lord, give us the strength to correct those who have hurt us,
so that we can be Your instruments in calling others to conversion.
And when we feel like they do not hear our voices, Lord,
help us to be ready to welcome them when they are ready
as You welcomed the Gentile and the tax collector.
Our silence can be a sacrifice, but it can also be an instrument of Your grace.
Lord, give us the wisdom to know when to use this instrument
for it is Your work that we are doing and Your will that we are seeking.
Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly ask this through Your Most Holy Name. Amen.
Take care and God Bless.
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