May your heart remain steadfast in showing grace.

and kindness to everyone around you today.

Show patience even when disagreements happen.

Speak to the person alone first to protect their dignity.

If they listen, the relationship is restored.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ezekiel 33:7-986

For your part,

Son of man, I have set you as a watchman for Israel;

and when you hear my word, you must give them my warning.

When I say to the wicked: 'Wicked man, you shall die for sure,

if you do not warn the wicked man to turn from his ways,

he will die because of his sin; but I will also call you to account for his blood.

If you warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so,

he will die for his sin; but you, yourself, will be saved.

 

Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 13:8-10

Do not be in debt to anyone. Let this be the only debt of one to another: Love.

The one who loves his or her neighbor fulfills the law. For the commandments:

Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not covet, and whatever else,

are summarized in this one: You will love your neighbor as yourself.

Love cannot do the neighbor any harm; so love fulfills the whole law.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 18:15-20

If your brother has sinned against you, go and point out the fault to him,

when the two of you are alone; and if he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

If he doesn't listen to you, take with you one or two others,

so that the case may be decided by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembled Church.

 

But if he does not listen to the Church, then regard him as a pagan,

or a tax collector. I say to you: whatever you bind on earth, heaven will keep bound;

and whatever you unbind on earth, heaven will keep unbound. In like manner,

I say to you, if, on earth, two of you agree in asking for anything,

it will be granted to you by my heavenly Father; for where two

or three are gathered in my name, I am there, among them."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina  Love fulfills the Law.

 

Read: God commissioned the prophet Ezekiel to serve as Israel's sentinel,

delivering His warnings to them. Meanwhile, in the second reading,

Paul explained to the Romans that love fulfills the Law, conveying the precept,

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." In the Gospel, Jesus instructs His disciples

on how they should behave as members of the Church.

 

Reflect: What motivates us to do the things we do? What keeps us moving each day?

St. Paul provides us with a teaching that synthesizes the Mass readings for today

and explains the reason behind our actions: love. This is not merely an emotion

or a sentimental feeling but a commitment to do good for others. In our lives as members of the Church,

love ought to be the power that drives us to connect with others and strive for their well-being.

It is also the reason behind our efforts to correct our brothers and sisters.

 

Pray: Lord, may my actions towards my neighbor always be motivated by love and nothing else. 

 

Act: Perform a loving act today: instead of judging a brother or sister,

pray for the wisdom to help them follow the right path.