sin and forgiveness

Good morning sisters and brothers,
This whole week our theme is forgiveness and reconciliation. Today's passage reminds us that God is always trying to forgive and bring sinners back home. Jesus also gives the church guidance on how to deal with sin inside the community of faith. This guidance goes counter to much of the world's wisdom about leaving others to do what they want. The goal here isn't interference, but reconciliation. If someone sins against you, the first step (if it's safe) is to speak to them one on one, where it's least likely to escalate the situation. If that doesn't work you need to enlist the help of other trusted Christians. If the person who has hurt you consistently won't change their ways at a certain point they need to be removed from the church. That's a hard situation to imagine, because God's forgiveness usually does win out if we really give it a chance. At the same time, truly harmful behavior left unchecked can poison a community and needs to be addressed openly and lovingly.

If there's a situation in your life that needs repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation, this is a good week to pray on it and seek a solution.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 18:12-20

¹²What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

¹⁵“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. ¹⁶But 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. ¹⁷If 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. ¹⁸Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again, 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. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”