Sunday Gospel: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Matthew 18:15-20

This week’s Gospel provides us with a lesson that could be well heeded in our contemporary world. Matthew relates a discourse on dealing with a grievance or sin between two ‘brothers’ – community members; fellow disciples. Matthew advises his audience that the first step is to try to resolve the matter privately between the offender and the one offended. This is a practice that seems to have almost disappeared today. When one person feels offended or hurt by another, it seems the last thing they do is to go and speak to the person, confront them with the hurt and try to resolve it. Soap operas and TV sitcoms promote avoidance of issues. The sub-text of so many TV shows is about lying to cover up a mistake; seeking revenge for some perceived (usually incorrect) insult; or working through others to try to deal with some hurt. If characters on these TV shows were to confront one another with a perceived hurt and seek to resolve the difference between them, then there would be no ‘drama’ to play out in the show. Admittedly, it doesn’t make for great television, but it does make for much better relationships!

Matthew advises his community that only after a failed attempt to address an issue face to face, should other members of the community become involved to further confront the offender through witnessing to their fault. The third step is to bring the person before the church community to be confronted with their actions and only after these three attempts to challenge the person fail, should they be shunned. There is a very strong message of reconciliation that comes through this process. The person is given every chance to face their error and to seek amends with the one they have hurt. The whole process works towards bringing the community back together in harmony, not to seek revenge and punishment.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Sacrament of Confirmation

Many of our Year 6 students and their families are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We all join in praying for them as they prepare for the Sacrament to be held in weeks 9 and 10 of this term at Holy Trinity Church in Curtin.

Confirmation Preparations with Year 6 Candidates

This afternoon Fr John visited the Candidates and discussed their Confirmation. He talked about many aspects of what the students would experience through this Sacrament and what it means for them in their own lives. He also spent some time answering questions from the children. It was lovely to be able to spend time with Fr John like this, and the children are really looking forward to seeing him on their “big night”.

Tomorrow I will be working with our Year Six Confirmation Candidates to complete preparation for their Sacrament, and create the Stoles that they will wear during the Sacrament. I’m looking forward to spending the time with the students during this time.

God bless,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator