Brother's keeper

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111025.cfm

Sometimes, Jesus is perfectly practical. He has a couple of completely logical and direct statements in today’s Gospel. They really center around how we help and support each other in our daily battle.

Here’s the first: “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur.” So, we know that we will always be surrounded by things that will tempt us to sin. This observation need not drag us down though. Yes, there will be temptation and yes, there will be trials, but these do not need to result in sin. Being tempted is NOT SIN. As a matter of fact, every time we are tempted and CHOOSE to act in a way pleasing to God, we should be celebrating! We are overcoming, with His help, the temptation in front us.

Here's the second: “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” This part takes a few steps to implement, but is till extremely practical. Jesus is telling us what you do, when inevitably, the causes of sin catch you off guard. First, let’s apply this to ourselves. If we sin, we should rebuke ourselves, and not let sin become comfortable, and normal. It is easy for us, especially with what seem to be less significant sins, to immediately jump to forgiving ourselves and normalizing sin. “Everyone takes office supplies.” Next, we repent. This could happen in several ways. One, acknowledging your sin to the Lord, in your prayer time your sin. Share with him the whole circumstance, and your reaction. At the next Mass you attend, bring this sin to mind during the Penitential act at the beginning of Mass. Your venial sins are forgiven there. You should still bring these to confession with you, though, so that you can receive some counsel on them and so that you can hear the beautiful words of absolution.

Once you have a handle on this process for yourself, you can THINK about this with your brother (or sister). I will say that this should be done with someone whom you consider a brother or sister, and with whom you have a relationship worthy of brotherhood or sisterhood. We have to be careful of being an indiscriminate ‘rebuker’. Our relationship should involve acknowledging our own faults, and perhaps even disclosing our pursuit of forgiveness. Sometimes, when the situation is ‘relationship’ oriented, we have to seek forgiveness for our part (however small) before rebuking. In short, they have to know that we love them before we can admonish them.

Then we hear Jesus share perhaps the hardest part of all: if you are sinned against seven times in one day, and each time they repent, we should forgive seven times. Seven here is symbolic number that means completeness. ( In today’s parlance, think 24/7) KEEP ON FORGIVING. Friendships, brotherhoods, sisterhoods built in this way are the foundation of our Christian Communities.

So commit to allowing the Lord to be a brother to you, so that you can become a ‘brother’s keeper’ for someone else.