Correction

Saint Paul the Apostle told the Corinthians, to “exhort one another”. 

Saints Peter and Paul (Carlo Crivelli)

Sometimes I see a person doing something and I feel very strongly that they are doing the wrong thing.  Perhaps their words or deeds trigger something in me?  Perhaps they frighten me or annoy me or distress me?

Sometimes, they simply offend me and hurt my pride.

Whatever they do one thing is for sure – I am surrounded by people who have the capacity to make mistakes.  And of course – sitting on my prideful perch – I am extremely good at seeing the splinter in my neighbour’s eye without being able to realise the beam in my own…

And yet, there is important responsibility to correct my brother, my sister , my neighbour and my friend – and to be corrected in return…

Saint Josemaria refused to remove the imperative that even superiors in Opus Dei should be corrected by their subordinates.  He believed that this led to great humility…

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, 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 I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:15-20).Saint Paul the Apostle told the Corinthians, to “exhort one another”.  And he adopted this advice himself with Saint Peter.  When Saint Peter continued to adopt Jewish practices in relation to food even despite ruling against such customs, Saint Paul corrected him and reminded him of the decision that was made…  And Saint Peter in his humility listened…  He did not say – who are you to talk, or you are worse than me or you stoned Christians.  Rather, he listened and pondered and changed.

And today, I pray for the Grace to be able to do just as much with the correction that I receive…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.