6 September 2026: Ezekiel 33: 7-9

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Please read the passage before the commentary.

How should we correct a brother or sister about their faults?  Our Gospel Reading and our reading from the prophet Ezekiel discuss this issue.

Very few people like being corrected for faults, especially when they think that they are right.

Matthew has in mind the local church, more like, perhaps, what we would call our parish.  The purpose of taking it ultimatly to the head of the local church is to put pressure of the person to change behavior.  There would be more pressure on the person at home than from a regional office.

Ezekiel, however, was sent to the people, not to an individual person.  He had to speak to the group, all the people, whereas the person in the gospel has to work more quietly and in a more intimate way.  God gave Ezwkiel authority to call all the people to account.

The purpose of being concerned about the faults of others is that the one at fault change behavior for the better.  It has nothing to do with the reputation or the ego of the one urging the change in behavior.

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