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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 10/9/2023 - Gospel: Mt 18:15-20
Correction
No one is perfect, and that means everyone needs to make room for improvement and correction, simply because we all make mistakes from time to time. Some errors are genuine, and small and simple; others are more serious and complicated. When a person realizes that a simple and ordinary error happens, that person can improve his/her performance by means of self- readjustment or self-correction. Mistakes are needed. They are not there for mourning, but we learn from making mistakes and grow to be a better person. When a person behaves outside of the community's expectations. It creates a serious scandal. When it comes to the surface, other community members need to get involved. Its purpose is not to punish the offender; but rather to restore peace for the community and maintain justice for its members. Errors often happen by poor judgment or lack of active listening. Fixing these problems requires better listening skills and openness to change. They become problematic when there is resistance to change and the refusal to set aside differences. It creates hurt and drift, and disharmony among the community members. Ultimately, a mistake happens when a person refuses to listen to God's Spirit whose voice whispers in a person's heart. Ignoring this voice certainly makes that person unhappy and his internal struggle pills out to the community, and  that creates angst and hurt among the community members. The healing process often happens behind closed doors to contain the scandal, avoid humiliation, and more importantly protect the reputation of the offender. When openness and honesty are not achieved, the healing process becomes time-consuming. It requires something more, namely, compassion and perseverance which are needed for the healing process. If the objective is not being met; then it is a clear sign telling us that the spirit of generosity is inactive in that person's heart. More prayer is needed for the community and for that person, in the hope that God's Spirit will change the heart of that person. 

The healing process is smooth and easy when both parties are willing to change for the better. The task becomes less challenging when both parties place the need of their community above their own need. This insight is one of the great gifts of the Spirit. However, human behaviour is often more demanding and is not easy to satisfy. This case requires more than one member of the community to get involved. The healing process sometimes requires the voice of the whole community. If the community exhausts all possible means and the person continues to refuse to change, then the community respects the choice the offender has made. His way is certainly incompatible with the spirit of the community, in which God's love and compassion are its foundation. His behaviour also reveals that his heart is closed to the voice of the Spirit, and the voice of the community. The road of reconciliation becomes a no through road. 

True healing changes who we are and makes us new in Christ. This change often begins with generosity. Generosity is exchanged between a giver and a receiver, and that is a sure sign of God's spirit is quietly at work.

The purpose of Christian healing is not to humiliate, or damage the reputations, but simply to restore broken relationships. Its primary purpose is not winning but to embrace everyone and maintain a healthy relationship with God and with each other. It does not condemn sinners, but opens its arm to welcome them back. Its way of operating is based on unselfish love, forgiveness,  acts of charity, and free choices a person makes.

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