God speaks this week through these scriptures:

Ezekiel 33:7-11 – The prophet’s responsibility to warn the people

Psalm 119:33-40 – “I desire the path of your commandments.”

Romans 13:8-14 – Live honorably as in the day

Matthew 18:15-20 – Reconciliation in the community of faith

The prophet Ezekiel tells of warning the wicked to turn from their ways.  Paul reminds us that love is the fulfilling of the law. Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are often used in situations having to do with church discipline.

Conflict is a part of relationships and life in community. When church people refer to “Matthew 18,” it is the gospel for this coming Sunday that they are thinking of, with its advice about how Christians are to deal with controversies within the believing community. The good news in the reading is especially the last line: that Christ is among us always.

We gather in the name of Christ, assured that he is present among us with gifts of peace and reconciliation. Come to receive Christ’s gift of himself in word, sacrament, and community.

From SundaysAndSeasons.com and Gail Ramshaw