Jesus’ teaching on fraternal correction

It is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and the gospel reading today is about Jesus’ teaching on fraternal correction that you can find in Matt.18: 15-20. Call this the ancient way of solving problems among friends or families. However, I hope we haven’t forgotten that this teaching comes from Jesus himself, because we all know that he is the final arbiter when our lives are over. So if you had any inheritance problems with your siblings it’s better to learn what Jesus has to say in order to solve your problem. At this point in time most people find a good lawyer, but at the end of your life this won’t help. So let’s go into today’s gospel reading.

“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 gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

“18 Truly, 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

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In this day and age of having a judiciary it surprises me that so many Catholics aren’t taking Jesus’ words seriously. And to think many people say they accept the Word of God. I know of many families and friends who have property or financial problems that they could have easily solved if they followed Jesus’ advice to open your hearts and seek some kind of reconciliation.

So if you read the first part of today’s gospel, it goes, 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 gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

There are actually three suggestions from Jesus. First is to be frank and honest about your problems with your brother and talk to him alone. If he listens to you, you have literally won over your kin!

However, if he doesn’t listen to you alone, take one or two friends as witnesses so that you may really file charges against your kin to give him an idea of the seriousness of the situation. If that fails, you may tell it to the Church and if that still doesn’t work, then the church as a community would condemn him like a tax collector.

In the final verse of today’s gospel, Jesus says, “18 Truly, 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Jesus reminds us of the power he gave to the Church and its apostles that whatever they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever they loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. This is a very powerful task given to the Church that whatever you agree amongst yourselves inside the Church would be acceptable in heaven. Finally in the last verse Jesus said, “20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” We have always believed that Jesus would be among us or in our midst when we pray together.