Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

“If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”

Fraternal correction is perhaps one of the most neglected practices of the Christian life. Pope Benedict XVI referred to it as “fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation.” He notes that today “we are very sensitive to the idea of charity and caring about the physical and material well-being of others, but almost completely silent about our spiritual responsibility towards our brothers and sisters.”

We certainly have plenty of judgmental thoughts, which are impossible to entirely avoid. Yet the charity of Christ urges us in the love of neighbor and most often our neighbor is right aside us in family, friends, or coworkers.

Pope Benedict makes these helpful points:

• We do it because we are part of a community “truly mature in faith” (knowing where life is headed!)
• Christ commands it of us: “If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”
• It is among the spiritual works of mercy.
• It is always moved by love and mercy, never by a spirit of accusation or recrimination.

Admittedly, fraternal correction takes a certain balance. We must be aware of our own failures, yet not afraid to help the other with our honest and caring perceptions. In performing this service, we “help others and allow them to help us, so that we can be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk” together towards holiness.

Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB