Throughout his Sermon on the Mount and his public ministry, Jesus lays down some rules for we need to treat each other—rules of the household, if you will. As he should! Better than any of us, the Lord realizes the reality and destructiveness of sin. Sin is like a corrosive acid that eats away at the individual soul, and certainly through the bonds of family, community, and Church. And, of course, sin keeps us from witnessing to the Gospel as we should.
So he issues, in this morning’s Gospel, a three step-procedure for rooting out sin in the community—what to do when a brother or sister in Christ, including priests, bishops, or religious, should commit some wrong--what is known as "fraternal correction".
First they should be approached one-on-one—tell him his fault between you and him alone. Without falling into gossip or fruitless complaining, we need to have the courage to approach the fellow Christian, to confront them with the facts with compassion, patience, and understanding. That’s not always easy. But if I were doing something wrong, say as your pastor, I would hope you love me enough to bring your concerns to me. If there is something which I am doing which is contrary to the Gospel or Canon Law or the liturgical law of the Church or the good of the parish, I would want to be corrected. It is an act of mercy, an act of love, to engage in fraternal correction, when it is done with pure motives—not acting out of self-interest or with bias or jealousy. God forbid we bring trumped up charges against a brother, like the Sanhedrin did to the Lord.
If that one-on-one confrontation doesn’t work, the Lord says, go back to that individual and take along one or two invested fellow Christians, as an objective party. Oftentimes an individual needs to know that it’s not just one person who has a problem with them, but their behavior is having an effect on the community as a whole.
And then, if that doesn’t work, the Lord says, “tell the Church”. What does that mean? Well, the sin should be dealt by the Church—following the principal of subsidiarity. You don’t need to write the Pope when you have a problem with a member of the parish staff.
And only if the scandal continues should there be a public denunciation, in order to make it clear to everyone that the sinful, scandalous behavior is contrary to God's loving plan of salvation.
This is why you will see from time to time a public sinner, like a Catholic politician or a priest who persists in some action which is gravely contrary to the Gospel, they will be publicly excommunicated. In fact, it’s likely a failure of bishops, when they do not publicly correct the public sinner.
All of this can be pretty hard and pretty uncomfortable. The truth can be hard to tell and hard to receive. It is hard to confront someone peacefully, especially since we may be persecuted for it. It is hard to take criticism without becoming defensive and trying to justify our actions. It is hard to change because we become set in our ways—even in the way we treat others.
Tongues of gossip, backbiting, negativity, and discouragement destroy the Church. Allowing evil to fester is not good for anyone. Rather, tongues of truth, and compassion and encouragement, prophecy, and discernment, and the humility to change when we are wrong, these things build up the Church. So we must choose, will we play right into the hands of the devil, by shredding one another with razor-blade tongues. Or will we allow the Spirit of God to lead us in the way of humility and truth, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy may lead the Church by example in witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with courage and living the Gospel with charity and perseverance.
That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.
That our young people on summer vacation may remain close to Jesus through prayer, attendance at Holy Mass with their families, repentance through Sacramental Confession, and faithfulness to all the teachings of Christ. We pray to the Lord.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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