In the first portion of today's Gospel, our Lord gives us the principles by which we are
to guided when making fraternal correction.
Indeed, often this passage is so misunderstood, for it seems that many see it as a way to
drive our neighbor, to drive our brother almost to the brink of despair.
But if we understand in context of the Scripture and in light of the teachings of our Lord,
then we know this cannot be a legitimate interpretation, for our Lord constantly reminded us that he
came to save the sinner because he did not wish the death of anyone.
That is, their death in sin.
And so, our Lord is telling us that first, if one sins against us, and also by this,
he simply doesn't mean if the sin is personally directed against us, but if we see any of
our brothers in the faith sinning either against ourselves directly or against others, then
we should go and tell him in private so that he may come to his senses.
Because our Lord, always and everywhere, is showing us not to take.
vengeance, but working and always having the intention of seeing the conversion of the sinner.
He next instructs us that if he does not listen to our personal correction, then we have to
take him in front of two others, that is, to whom we trust, not to reveal the discussion that would
transpire.
Why?
Because often is the case when we are caught in sin, it might not be so that we would accept the
correction of others.
But when two or three others might take us against us in this case, it's a sign to us that a, two others,
we should not take in front of us another two others.
So do not take him in front of us another two others. But when two or three others are facing a
Three more are also present in agreement with the one
because they have either seen the act or know very clearly that the sin was committed.
Then sometimes the soul comes to his senses,
and so our Lord says again not to take vengeance,
but always to have in mind the conversion of the sinner
and not to correct by those means that often disguise a true piety,
that is, those subtle reminders that perhaps are left,
no direct correction, but simply an attempt to take vengeance
or to correct by innuendo as is often the case again,
not in the manner that our Lord has instructed us in today's gospel,
but a way to hide the vengeance and in some cases even the hatred
that we may have in our hearts for our brethren.
And so we are to avoid these means because they do not have that primary intention in mind,
the conversion of all, and so we must correct,
constantly love one another even in our sin.
Next, he tells us that if he does not listen to the three witnesses,
he is to be brought to the church,
and by this our Lord clearly means that he is to be brought to a priest,
a pastor, or a bishop so that the paternal correction of the priest,
the pastor, or the bishop may bring him to his senses.
But even in this case, he says,
if the sin is so egregious that he does not listen to the church
and the church...
must take the means by which he is excommunicated,
we must also understand that excommunication is not the church's means
by which to take vengeance,
but it is in accord with those principles that St. Paul particularly lays out.
He delivered a person over to Satan for a time
and so that he may come to his senses.
And so we see very clearly that in all fraternal correction,
the intention must be at some point the conversion of the sin,
the sinner, because we must have in this the same dispositions of the Lord,
that we do not wish to see the death of the sinner,
but truly we wish to see his conversion.
And in a certain sense, we can see we are all guilty,
for we all commit sins, we all have faults and failings
that in some way offend our neighbor.
And so if we were to treat...
if our neighbor were to treat us as often as we treat others
when we try to make correction,
but indeed we are merely trying to disguise the fact
that we are taking some form of vengeance
or manifesting some form of hatred,
whether it be light or whether it be grievous,
it is again not in accord with the will of our Lord and Savior.
And so we must constantly pray that we always have a good intention,
especially in those moments when it is necessary for us
to exercise fraternal correction.
And ultimately our Lord says if the church has decided
that the sinner must be handed over to Satan for a time,
that is, by the judicial act of excommunication,
then he is to be treated like a Gentile or a tax collector,
that is, he is to be avoided.
We are not to sit down and to eat with him,
nor to engage him in conversation.
And again, the reason for this is not to take vengeance,
but in order that by such means the sinner may truly
and finally come to his repentance,
there return to the church seeking the forgiveness of the Lord,
and then, as Scripture tells us,
putting his hands back on the plow,
not looking back, for what is past is past.
Sins forgiven are sins forgiven,
and they are not to be used as weapons
against those who have committed them.
And so we see very clearly that in order to exercise
this virtue of fraternal correction
in accord with the means of our Lord and the way of our Lord,
we must constantly beseech Him in prayer
and must constantly be strengthened by His grace
through the sacramental life of the church.
And so, ultimately, fraternal correction is both a call
to the one who must on occasion correct his brother
and also to the brother,
a call to the mercy of Almighty God,
because it is a call that each and every one recognize
their complete dependence on God for all things.
The sinner is dependent upon God,
dependent upon the grace of God for his conversion,
and the one who must correct
is dependent upon the grace of God
in order to do it in a charitable way,
always holding out the mercy of God
as the final solution for the trials and tribulations
and the faults and failings of our modern era.
And so, let us truly rejoice,
for in today's Gospel, St. Matthew has told us clearly
and shown us quite clearly
that the Lord truly does not wish the death of the sinner,
but that He wishes all to be converted
and to be brought to life,
that is, the life that alone can be received
through Holy Mother Church,
for we are called to a supernatural life.
And if we strive for this,
then we will establish that culture known as Christendom,
that is, that culture that is imbued with the virtues
that it acquires from Holy Mother Church.
And so, it truly becomes a culture of charity,
not a culture of vengeance and hatred
as our modern culture does.
It seems to become but truly one
in which the mercy of God and the hope of salvation
is held out both to saint and sinner
because the saint recognizes
the need of the mercy of God in the life of the sinner
and he is willing to do anything
insofar as it is in accord with charity,
he is willing to do anything
to reconcile the sinner with God
because he understands
that in the passion, crucifixion, and death of our Lord,
Christ truly did,
Christ truly did everything for us.
And so, we must strive to do everything for each other
because he has first done so for us.
And if we do this,
then a culture truly becomes a Catholic culture,
a culture of charity,
a culture of true fraternal,
a culture in which fraternal correction
is always and everywhere exercised in accord with the will of God.
And so, it establishes in society
a means by which no one will despair of their salvation
because they will always have charity
and the mercy of God at their disposal
because nothing will be done
to drive them definitively away from Christ
as it seems many of the institutes
in our modern society are designed to do.
And so, let us strive
not to compromise with the principles of this world
but always uphold the principles of Christ
so that we always do things
in accord with the will of God
who truly does not wish the death of the sinner
because he wishes the sinner
to be with him for all eternity in heaven.
And so, let us strive
not to compromise with the principles of Christ
but always uphold the principles of Christ
so that we always do things
in accordance with the principles of Christ
and in accordance with the principles of Christ.