23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

“If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private,” as it says in today’s Gospel. To “rebuke” means to correct or instruct. People react in various ways when they are corrected. Some accept it gladly, while others take it in stride. Some nod just to move the conversation along, while others reject it outright—and there are many other reactions as well.
When correcting someone, it is important to remember that it should be based on love, not hatred. People who are corrected with love are more likely to accept the correction, and as a result, are more likely to change.
Let’s set out on this week’s journey keeping in mind that “A true friend corrects you to your face and praises you behind your back. It’s easy to find friends in good times, but hard to find them in hard times. A church without love is like a garden without flowers.”