Fraternal correction

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In today's gospel from Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus teaches us about what is called fraternal correction. He says, ''If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone.'' These words of Jesus demand care in the way we apply them in practice. He does not mean that we get our own back on someone who annoys us by giving him a good telling off. Jesus is talking about a serious breach of the love, respect and justice that he expects his followers to show as members of his community. This can be seen when he says that if the offender does not listen to the first person who speaks to him then several members should talk to him and then if no attention is paid to them, then the whole community is to be involved.

 

If a member of the community is being treated unjustly, is being seriously harmed or placed at risk, then there is an obligation to correct the offender. Sometimes we can feel reluctant to do this for fear of embarrassing the other or losing his friendship. We must have the courage to protect those who are being harmed, but correctiion is to be done kindly so that the one who is acting wrongly will be encouraged to listen, and recognising his fault will change his ways. St Paul agrees when he says, ''When people sin, you should forgive them and comfort them so that they won't give up in despair. You should make them sure of your love for them.'' (2 Corintians 7-8). Jesus will be with us if we we are called to correct another for he says at the end of today's gospel, ''Where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them."