REFLECTIONS TODAY Chapter 18 of Matthew is often called “Community Discourse” or “Church Book.” Here, the evangelist gathers Jesus’ teachings on how his disciples are to live and deal with each other as a community. They should have the humility of a child, and care for each other, looking for the “lost ones” and bringing them back to the community. The Gospel today speaks on how to deal with a brother or sister who sins. Jesus presents three steps to reconciliation: (1) to confront the erring one in private, (2) to negotiate with two or three witnesses, and (3) to resort to adjudication, with the community as the final arbiter because the good of the community is at stake. Jesus emphasizes that the erring member is always a “brother” or a “sister.”

GOSPEL • MATTHEW 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.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.