DAILY GRACE
August 12, 2020, Wednesday of the 19th Week of Ordinary Time
Hello Everyone,
I apologize for not sending out the “Daily Grace” on Monday and Tuesday. I simply got behind on things, and have decided to just pick up with today’s devotion. I thank you for your understanding.
Dave
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20
‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault….”
This Gospel scene has two characters who call for some attention. First there is the one who sins, and there is the one who is going to correct the sinner. Attention is often given to the disciple whom Jesus instructs to confront his brother or sister church member. The reason for correcting the other doesn’t come from malice or an attempt to be superior. All of Christ’s disciples, including us, are called to act out of love and correct our brother or sister so that he or she can become more like Christ. Correcting someone in matters of faith is a spiritual work of mercy, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. Instead, it can be quite difficult and uncomfortable. Yet the person wo is being corrected is perhaps in an even more difficult position.
It is always hard to hear the negative side of our actions. When being told that we have hurt someone or that we have acted imprudently, we can respond much like the sinful disciple. We could become defensive and not accept responsibility for the wrongness of what we have done or didn’t do (a sin of omission). But we have an alternative. We can choose to receive correction openly and respond graciously. We could wholeheartedly acknowledge the act, ask forgiveness, change our ways, and even thank the person who corrects us. Being a true disciple of Christ requires the idea characteristics of both the correcting disciple and the corrected disciple. We must act in love toward our brothers and sisters even to the uncomfortable point of correcting them, and we must also acknowledge our humanity and receive correction with humility and gentleness. Both can be difficult. The humility to both correct and be corrected is a grace given to us by God so that we can be molded more into Christ’s image.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, I want to be molded more and more into your image. Fill me with your grace so that I can accept my limitations and act always out of love. When you corrected sinners (like the woman caught in adultery) you did so with gentleness and love. May I follow in your steps when I am called to correct and instruct. When I am being corrected, help me to hear you speak to me in the words of my brothers and sisters so that you, through them, may mold me in closer conformity to you. Grant me the grace to act and respond always in gentleness, humility, and love — just as you would do. Amen.
Contemplation
Mold me more and more into your image.