Mother Church enfolds in her bosom the just and sinners alike. Along with those who are faithful, there are members who stray. Are these to be separated from the community so as not to corrupt others? The sin of a member impacts not just on individual relationship but also on the community. The process in dealing with the erring member involves confrontation, repentance, and forgiveness. But first he is to be considered a “brother” (Greek adelphos), not just another member of the Church. Thinking of the sinner as a brother, or sister, or close companion brings the need for resolution to an immediacy, a sense of importance. The first step is to confront the matter directly, one-to-one, face-to-face. If this does not solve the problem, someone else is involved in the conversation, and if all else fails, the matter is taken before the community as a whole. From individual confrontation to communal attention, at each point along the way it should be pointed out that sin has implications for everyone involved, but above all the need to bring back those who stray.

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land—Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, the circuit of the Jordan with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms, and as far as Zoar. The Lord then said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over.” So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the Lord, died as the Lord had said; and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

Now Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, since Moses had laid his hands upon him; and so the children of Israel gave him their obedience, thus carrying out the Lord’s command to Moses.

Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and against all his land, and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of all Israel.