The Coming of Christmas: The Longing, the Lessons, and the Letting Go
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“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, 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.”
Matthew 18:15–18
Confronting sin in our brothers is one of the most difficult aspects of living a Christian life. Society and culture tell us that we should have the freedom to live our lives the way we see fit without anyone judging us or our decisions. The problem with this is that, ultimately, it isn’t a very loving approach toward our brothers in the Faith. Freedom without truth and sin without reconciliation lead to unrighteous living — and that, left unchecked, will lead inevitably to destruction.
While we must leave final judgment up to God, Catholic men are called to recognize sin for what it is, and speak truth into the lives of other men when we see it. From a practical perspective, there are ways we can challenge our brothers to overcome sin without condemning them. Jesus left the Church the means of confronting sin and restoring individuals to fellowship. We can draw from the strength of the Body when we work for unity and reconciliation for all our brothers.
It is important to approach faults in others with gentleness, respect, and humility. We must always remember that we also fall (cf. 1 Cor 10:12). Our focus should be on our concern for our brothers, not with our self-righteous need to prove we are “better” than they are. We need to be ready to explain our position, forgive the hurt, and walk the path of reconciliation. Together we must lift one another up and remain strong as believing brothers, united in the cause of Christ, who calls us to purity and perfection in his name.
Questions for Reflection
When have you had to confront sin in a brother, and how did you handle it? Has a brother ever had to confront you? How did it help you?
What do you do to hold yourself accountable before you point out any sin in another?
What are some practical ways you can help to walk with a brother facing sin today?
Praying with Scripture
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 4:32)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
