God appears to Ezekiel by Gustave Dore
At their professions, Benedictine monks and nuns open their arms before the Lord and pray… Suscipe me, Domine, secundum eloquium tuum… “Sustain me O Lord, as you have promised.” This shows that full dependence on God that the brothers and sisters strive for, and really all of us ought to strive for that because we are so dependent on God for absolutely everything.
For the religious, this dependence extends to even the other members of the community, they need each other to help them grow in holiness. A common practice in the Benedictine communities and really all religious communities that shows this dependence is fraternal correction, which entails giving those gentle nudges of encouragement to do the right thing, avoid sin, and live the virtues.
This seems to the world to be completely crazy. In this world which tells us that really the only way to sin is to be judgmental or to tell someone they are wrong, the idea of fraternal correction is crazy! Noticing another’s faults and calling them to the person’s attention to help them grow in holiness. It's that simple, yet the world wants to condemn anyone who would dare strive to assist others in becoming holy.
This idea of fraternal correction is not an idea reserved to the religious or those in convents, all of us are called to a certain level of this. All of us are really also dependent on our brothers and sisters in the faith. We need each other’s assistance to grow in holiness, and this is what our readings speak of today. We see how fraternal correction is given and received.
St. Paul reminds us that a real love for our brothers and sisters is necessary. Without that love and concern for the well-being of the other, we become only a nagging complainer. And, Jesus reminds us that any form of fraternal correction ought to begin as a personal discussion, not as a public rebuke, but rather a personal conversation that stems from love.
If we notice real faults in others, in our loved ones and friends, actual real faults, not just things that annoy us about the other, but real sinfulness that can cost the other their soul, we are called to exercise this fraternal correction… out of love. The prophet Ezekiel reminds us of the gravity of this call. If “you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.”
We can also place ourselves in the shoes of one who receives fraternal correction. The prophet says, “If the wicked is warned but refuses to turn away from his guilt, he shall die.”
When we are confronted on living a more virtuous life, how do we respond? Do we offer a worldly response, perhaps accusing the other of being judgmental or prideful? Do we think that we can do no wrong, or do we consider their words as words of love and try to overcome our faults?
It is truly amazing how the Lord speaks to us and makes himself known… of course in this Eucharist that we celebrate every day, but sometimes through the voice of a fellow Christian who is offering us encouragement through fraternal correction. So, if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.