Dear Family,
Have you ever had to sit someone down and tell them that they needed to change something about themselves or something about the way they were living their life because they were causing harm to themselves or others? It is not an easy thing to do! But we seem to have no problem talking about them and their problems to other people, also known as gossiping!
In our First Reading this weekend, Ezekiel is told to tell the people of his time that they needed to change or God would end their lives. But then God adds another caveat to His instruction. If Ezekiel did not try to help them change, he would be held responsible! Wow!
God expects us to help each other live holy lives. In Genesis, God asks Cain where his brother Abel is, knowing full well that Cain had killed Abel. And what was Cain’s answer? “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God’s answer is YES!
Jesus teaches us the same thing in our Gospel reading today. We need to watch out for our immediate family and all of our Christian brothers and sisters. If we see someone living in a way that endangers them now, or even worse endangering their eternal life in heaven, we need to help them correct their ways. Jesus tells us to take them aside first by themselves so as not to make it a public issue. If that doesn’t work, then take along a few others to try. Today we call this an intervention. Then if that doesn’t work, get the whole Church involved.
We are called to try everything we can to help each other get to heaven. It may be difficult to address these issues, but we must do it. Remember what God told Ezekiel. If you don’t try, you will be held responsible for that person’s eternal life! Let us love one another enough to do everything we can to get each other to heaven! That means always proclaiming the TRUTH of God and not bending to the winds of current culture