“Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.” (Ezekiel 33:7).  

The major theme for this 23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on our obligation to practice the fraternal correction due to the impact of faith in our personal and communal lives. Having faith in Jesus Christ, and being a member of the Church, means that we belong to Christ in a community of brothers and sisters that share the same belief. As we are in this extended family in Christ, also known as the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, we are the “keepers” of our brothers and sisters in faith. Each one of us is important to all in our faithful community. Thus, we must be conscientiously and meaningfully present to one another, and take responsibility of each other.
 
Any inhumane or disrespectful or neglecting attitude or behavior against each other, especially toward those defenseless ones, is detrimental to all. We need to admonish and correct offenders for the wellbeing and salvation of the whole entity. We are responsible for each other’s salvation, because we are all God’s children, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fraternal correction is a sincere and affectionate suggestion that a Christian person gives to his or her neighbor to help them along the path to holiness. It is a means of spiritual progress by which a person can grow in self-knowledge, becoming aware of defects that might be hidden or disguised by self-love. It is often a necessary precondition to enable us to tackle those defects with God’s help, and so improve our Christian living.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to practice the fraternal correction, to follow Jesus Christ more closely, to repent our sins, to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we become authentic keepers of our brother’s and sister’s salvation and wellbeing, having the moral courage to practice the fraternal corrections, to offer guidance and encouragement to live a holy life?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.