Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother”.
A friendly correction is inevitable for all relationship, family and community. It is necessary to use caution on someone who hurts us. Though, unconsciously, we might be tempted to raise their flaws in the open with a justification of doing well. We may defend our state of mind with millions of excuses. It is difficult to be tolerant in front of other people's misdeed; it may lead us becoming arrogant, proud, egoistic and selfish to the point of considering ourselves just.To openly challenge someone may make the individual tense, nervous, irritable and protective to avoid being humiliated or appear rude before others. Sometimes, we may discover that we have misunderstood their words or misinterpreted their actions. It may be that the other may have acknowledged his or her mistake and is waiting for an appropriate time to come and tender an apology.
We have to utilise a better approach to people's mistakes and their unhelpful actions with delicacy, respect, appeal and understanding.
If we activate a stadium light behind a brother or sister that we want to correct, we will do nothing but cast distorted shadows on them. If we put the light in their eyes we will end up blinding him. However, if we truly want to help them understand their mistake, it is better to give them a candle to shed light on their pathway and stay by their side to assist them with our prayers, love and fraternal charity.
Prayer: Lord, strengthen me with your Divine love that I may learn to forgive hurts and to correct others with fraternal charity and understanding.
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