Matthew 18

It takes much courage to go and point out the fault when a person sins against us. But this is what Jesus tells us to do. He teaches us to go and point out the fault when the two of us are alone if my brother or sister sins against me.

However, most often we instead go out and talk to others. These days people write on social media and social network services so that even strangers share stories and spread them.

The steps for fraternal correction Jesus teaches today aim at regaining our brothers and sisters. Jesus does not even speak about claiming justice. When someone admits his fault and guilt and repent his sins, we should forgive them. It is more important to have them back as our brothers and sisters than to demand justice.

But when we instead talk about their faults and sins to others, what we are doing is not demanding for justice but inflicting damages. The people we are speaking to are not judges or authorities who can resolve the matter. Complaints and accusations on social media often bring unexpected and permanent damages beyond the writers’ control.

So, let us think once more when someone sins against us. If we directly speak to the person, it can be a fraternal correction and a gesture for forgiveness. But if we bring the matter to others, it becomes a complaint and an accusation that can cause new damages, not only to the person we accuse but also to us in unexpected ways.