Reading 1
Ez 33:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9R. (8)
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2
Rom 13:8-10
Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, "
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Gospel
Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, 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.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Meditation: Matthew 18:15-20
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
What a beautiful image: Jesus himself is with us when we come together in his name, sharing our faith in him! But this is more than just a beautiful image that comforts us. It’s also a profound truth that challenges us. If Jesus is in our midst, what does that say about the way we should treat each other?
Gathering “in Christ’s name” is like coming together for the weekly family meal—only on a much grander scale! It’s a time to share our lives together with Jesus in our midst. And it’s also a time to remember that we are called to love each other, to take up a concern for one another’s well-being.
Remembering this focus on family relationships can help us put into practice Jesus’ teachings about helping a brother or sister who has turned away from the Lord. It will remind us that Jesus wasn’t giving a set of procedural rules on dealing with the lapsed. Rather, he was describing an attitude of heart—a attitude of love and compassion, not of harsh correction or condemnation.
When you find yourself in a situation where you can help someone who has wandered from the Lord, remember that God wants you to see that other person through his eyes. Here is a son or daughter who has been created for intimacy with him. Here is someone who is infinitely loved. Here is someone on whom God wants to pour his grace and mercy.
Let these truths guide the way you relate to that person. Let Jesus’ love, flowing from your heart, touch that person’s life. Let his mercy and compassion help you find the words to speak—or lead you to silent intercession. Let his Spirit give you wisdom!
“Thank you, Father, for calling me into your family. Teach me how to reach out to my loved ones in a way that unites us all in love, reverence, and peace.”
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