(06.09.2026) 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 33:7–9 | Romans 13:8–10 | Matthew 18:15–20

Central Theme: The courage to speak, listen, and repair relationships before silence turns small wounds into deep divisions.

The Dangerous Crack

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There is a story told about a monastery that had a large water tank supplying all their needs. One day, a small crack appeared in the side of the tank. At first, nobody paid much attention to it. It seemed insignificant, just a tiny blemish. Later, one of the senior fathers noticed it and immediately went to the person in charge, urging them: "Please, repair it as soon as possible. If we leave it like this, the crack will get bigger, and eventually, the whole tank may break."

The repair was done just in time. When the area around the crack was opened up, the repairman said, "You did this at exactly the right moment. If you had waited any longer, the entire tank would have been destroyed."

There is a profound spiritual lesson here for every single one of us: A crack in a structure does not become dangerous only because it is big; it becomes dangerous when it is ignored.

This is exactly what happens in our families, our workplaces, and our parish community. Someone says something that hurts us, or someone misunderstands us, and instead of speaking, we keep quiet. We say, "It is nothing," but we carry the pain in our hearts. Then another small incident happens, and we remain silent again. Slowly, that little crack in the relationship becomes wider. We stop speaking freely, we begin to avoid one another, and eventually, we stop seeing each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

 2. Christ’s Command: "Go"

This is why today’s Gospel is so challenging and so necessary. Jesus does not tell us to wait for the other person to realize their mistake. He does not tell us to nurse our wounds in silence. He gives us a direct command.

He says, "If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone" (Matthew 18:15).

The first word Christ speaks is "Go."

 * He tells us to go, not to gossip.

 * He tells us to speak, not to keep everything inside.

 * He tells us to meet the person, not to discuss them with everyone else.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems in our modern world, and even within our church communities, is that we do not speak enough to the right person. A husband may be deeply hurt by his wife, but he does not speak to her; a wife may carry pain caused by her husband, but she remains silent. Parents and children can live under the same roof for years while carrying unspoken resentments. Even in religious life, brothers or sisters can pray, eat, and work together, while something inside has become distant because nobody has found the courage to say, "Let us talk about what happened."

 3. Fraternal Correction is an Act of Love

When Jesus asks us to "go" and correct our brother or sister, He is not giving us permission to be critical, judgmental, or harsh. Today’s reading from Ezekiel reinforces this: we have a responsibility to warn others when they are off track, but how we do it matters.

Saint Francis de Sales, known for his great gentleness, beautifully observed that "a spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar." The truth may be difficult to hear, but the way we speak it can either open a heart or close it tight.

The Old Testament gives us a perfect model of this gentle, loving correction in the story of the prophet Nathan and King David. When David had sinned grievously, Nathan did not go to destroy David or publicly shame him. He went to him and spoke the truth through a simple story. David recognized his sin through Nathan's words and came to true repentance (2 Samuel 12:1–7). Nathan spoke to bring David back, not to push him away.

4. The Goal: To Regain Your Brother

What is the ultimate purpose of following Jesus’ steps for reconciliation? Jesus tells us: "If he listens to you, you have regained that one" (Matthew 18:15).

The goal of fraternal correction is not to prove that we are right, to vindicate our feelings, or to win an argument. The goal is always reconciliation—to regain the person and restore the unity of the community.

Jesus provides a step-by-step path: speak privately first, then bring in a few witnesses only if necessary, and only involve the wider community as a last resort. This path is designed to protect the person’s dignity and allow for repentance. Yet, how often do we do the opposite? We often go directly to "the community" via gossip, shaming, or complaining, widening the crack into a break. Many issues in our families could be solved instantly if we simply spoke openly, honestly, and lovingly to one another, rather than speaking about people, speaking around the problem, and speaking to everyone else except the one who needs to hear us.

One honest, private, and loving conversation can save a relationship that years of silence were slowly destroying.

 5. Summary and Practical Applications

Today, as we prepare to approach this altar of unity, the Holy Spirit is asking us to examine our hearts and our relationships.

 * Fix the Gossip: If you are upset with a brother or sister in this parish, or someone in your family, resolve today to stop talking about them to others. That is gossip, and it only widens the crack.

 * Go and Speak Privately: Follow Jesus’ command. Find the courage to go to the person you are struggling with and say, "Let us talk about what happened," and do it when the "two of you are alone."

 * Speak with Love: Pray for the grace of Saint Francis de Sales. Before you speak difficult truths, make sure your heart is filled with honey, not vinegar. Your goal is to heal, not to wound.

 * Be the Catalyst for Peace: Do not wait for the other person to notice the crack. If you see it, take the loving initiative to repair it now, before it destroys the tank.

 6. Self-Reflection and Conclusion

My dear friends, today Jesus is asking each of us a very important question:

 * Is there a crack somewhere in one of my relationships that I am currently ignoring?

 * Is there someone I need to speak to today before that crack becomes a permanent break?

Our parish, our families, and our Church community can only remain strong if we are brave enough to repair the cracks as soon as they appear.

Let us pray for the courage to speak before silence becomes a wall, and to love before the crack becomes a break. May we always find our true unity in Christ, remembering His promise that "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). He is present in our worship, but He is also present in our difficult, necessary, and loving conversations.

Amen.