Spiritual Family

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 
10 September 2017

First reading

Ezekiel 33:7-9

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name. If I say to a wicked man: Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.’

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9

                

Second reading

Romans 13:8-10

Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

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Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

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Gospel

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
  ‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
  ‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

Reflection

by Gary Tulabut

I never had a spiritual community growing up. Yes, I was a member of different religious organizations. But the idea of fellowship was not present in those groups. The thing we did were all about liturgy (I’m not saying liturgy is wrong, no.) But formation was always given less priority.

Among the benefits of having a spiritual community is having people to help you in times of crises, including correcting you when you are going into the wrong direction.

Just three weeks ago, I was facing an emotional dilemma. I messaged three elders in my community about it. And they were ready to give a helping hand. We were supposed to meet two days after I texted them, but it’s a good thing my problem was solved even before we met.

I know if I ever need them again they will here for me. I also know that if and when I will need correction, they will correct me.

That’s the beauty of having a spiritual community, a spiritual family. I am assured of confidants who I know are God-fearing individuals whose advice, even of earthly matters, will always be according to the will of God.

Prayer

Father, thank You for my spiritual family.  Thank you for the people you send to guide us, to help us, to correct us. Amen.