1ST READING
We all have responsibilities. No one can live without them. What we have to ensure is that we keep them. If we do our part in any given situation, then we cannot be held responsible for the choices of others. If we set a bad example or fail to live out our responsibilities, then we will be held responsible, if not immediately then on the Day of Judgment.
Ezekiel 33:7-9
7 Thus says the Lord, You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. 8 If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. 9 But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.
P S A L M
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
1 Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalm to him. (R) 6 Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. (R) Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8 “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” (R)
2ND READING
If we truly love, then we will not break the Commandments. People who argue that they are doing the loving thing but are disobeying the Commandments are mistaken. It is impossible to love in the true sense of the word and then break the Commandments. It is as simple as that. “Doing the loving thing” has become a catchphrase that people use to rationalize actions that are wrong but which they seemingly cannot help doing.
Romans 13:8-10
8 Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
GOSPEL
Jesus is not necessarily outlining a strict set of practices for correcting someone but He is saying that we need to take seriously any sinful act that we witness. In the Early Church, and to a certain extent still today, there are acts which cause automatic exclusion from the faith community. People were often banished from their homes and communities if they refused to repent and change their ways. This was done to protect the remaining members of the community.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Matthew 18:15-20
15 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. 16 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.’ 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
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