What area challenges you the most?
For each of us it is different but today's gospel suggest one of the most common areas. It opens with a simple instruction:
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
Could it be any simpler? And how often is that really our first step?
More often it begins with the internal monologue about how we have been wronged. Then we look for a sympathetic ear, someone who, instead of giving us a fresh perspective, will reinforce our sense of being wronged. Even better, if they already dislike the person who wronged you. Before long all of our friends know how awfully we have been treated, and we still haven't talked one on one with the person.
And suppose it is true that the person treats everybody this way, and isn't going to listen. Does that absolve us of the obligation placed on us by the gospel? Does that give us the right to simply complain and gossip?
The gospel is simple but not easy. Perhaps our grandmothers had it right when they said, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. Once again we are reminded that the words discipline and disciple come from the same root. Today lets see if we can't exercise some self-discipline.
