In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for their future life of leadership. Today he talks about reconciliation within the church community, and what we should do if/when one member does something wrong or there is conflict between different members. Jesus makes it clear that it is the shared responsibility of all to do everything possible to help that person to recognise their problem and change their ways. Jesus is saying that the Christian life is not about saying my prayers and minding my own business. The salvation of others is also my business and there are times when we need to challenge each other.

We might feel slightly uncomfortable with this – the truth is that many people today have what we might call a “privatised spirituality” and highly individualistic faith life. We have a false image that prayer is when I go into my private bubble and talk with God on my private hotline! If this is our way of seeing things then we will really struggle with the idea of the ‘community aspect of sin’. This simply means that we have a responsibility for each other. We are not solitary islands. Jesus teaches that one role of the community is to act as a guide and source of accountability for all. We don’t correct each other in a self-righteous, humiliating way but with compassion and care, recognising that each and every one of us have our own struggles. If my care for other people is genuine then I will be saddened and grieving if I see them going astray. I am failing them if I do not try to win them back. The circle of responsibility widens out to the neighbourhood I live in, and then to caring about the injustices of our wider society and world. This is why Pope Leo urges us to care about the destruction of the environment in his powerful letter for this year’s Season of Creation which you will find inside this newsletter. It is a key part of our faith to care for God’s creation. It all starts close to home. At the heart of being a disciple of Christ is a deep care for the good of all around me.


With blessings & prayers from Fr Richard, Fr Ephrem & all the parish team
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