24th Sunday A 6 September 2026 Sermon

23^rd Sunday A 6 September 2026 Correction

Sometimes we think of ourselves as individuals, having our own name, and other details like date of birth etc.

Sometimes we identify ourselves as part of a larger body, such as Australian, or stamp collectors or supporters of a particular football club etc.

In spiritual terms we make our own way as individuals asking for forgiveness of sins and entry into eternal life.

But we also identify as one Body, the Body of Christ, all united in one faith, one baptism, one Lord.

We want to go to Heaven in this way too – together we are the Bride and Christ is the Bridegroom, and all the other images, like branches to a tree, or sheep with the Shepherd, or small stones on a large Rock.

As one we make up the Church, and we are saved and sanctified as that body of people.

Jesus Himself wants us as one body. Just as He will not let the lost sheep stay lost, but will seek to bring it back to the fold, so He wants all people to find their identity in Him.

If not all, then, as many as possible, and that is one thing we are always praying for, the growth of the Church.

We should s strive to live in union with each other, because Jesus wants it, and because to live in that unity is to achieve our full identity. We are meant to live as one, not as isolated individual units. This applies especially if we speak of salvation. We are saved as one and not just as individual souls.

As one, we encourage each other  ‘Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.’ (1 Th 5,11)

As one we correct each other, always in charity. In today’s Gospel, Our Lord sets out a process where a misbehaving member of the Church can be corrected until he either comes to conformity with the Church, or is expelled. (Mt 18, 15-20)

Humility and charity should be at all times paramount.

Today, correction is often taken as a personal attack. It should not be personal, on either side, but aimed at finding the best possible understanding of whatever is the issue.

The point of the correction is to help the offender find the right path, at the same time defending and increasing the unity of the Church.

Whether it is the thrashing out of the dogmas of the Church, or domestic matters, like Clean up your room.

Correction can itself need correcting insofar as it is not always charitable, and not always right. But with humility on all sides we should  get it right.

We remember that to build up the Body of Christ is our main concern.

We see that Jesus Himself corrected people. He had to do a lot of it to clarify misunderstandings (especially apostles), or to chastise someone (especially Pharisees).

He adapted his tone to the needs of the situation. He was more severe with the pharisees than to the repentant sinners, for instance. He knew what each one needed.

One very useful fruit of all this is that it will increase the power of our petitionary prayer.

Where two or three are gathered in My Name …there will be great things happening (cf Mt 18,20).