Our readings today remind us that we have a moral obligation to correct blatant wrongdoing whenever it presents itself in our families, in the workplace, or in society. Our first reading, from Ezekiel, makes it quite clear that if we do not warn those who have done wrong to turn from their ways and repent, we will be held responsible for their sins. However, the readings are also very clear about the way in which we are supposed to confront and correct this wrongdoing. Our goal is not to condemn, but to help the person learn from their mistakes and repent. Perhaps St. Paul sums up this teaching best in our Second Reading today, when he reminds us of the importance of loving one another, since love is the fulfillment of the law.
Jesus, in the Gospel, shows us how to put this love into action, when he gives us a model to follow for addressing the wrongs that another person has committed. He notes that the matter should first be dealt with privately, in order to respect and honour the dignity of the other person. A process is given if the person still refuses to listen: but even in that process Jesus makes it very clear that the goal is not to broadcast the person’s sins and shortcomings to the world.
This lesson is one that our world desperately needs to remind itself of today. In our modern age of social media, it becomes all to easy to broadcast a person’s faults and shortcomings to the world in the heat of the moment. We see countless posts exclaiming “You won’t believe what so-and-so said or did to me…” with other followers chiming in to tear the offender down, and proclaim what a horrible person they are. It’s easy to see how this approach is not loving, and only seeks to divide and tear down, instead of healing and lifting up.
At the end of the day, our duty to correct others is about leading them to growth in holiness. If we constantly tear others down, and condemn everything that they do, how is that going to be helpful? If we are truly going to lead others to growth in holiness, we need to learn to be able to do so in love, following the example of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus shows us how love is a far more powerful tool for conversion than condemnation. May we be given the courage to follow his example, and help others to more fully experience the Love of God in their lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB