Jesus is telling us, in no uncertain terms, that we have a serious responsibility to bring a saving word of correction to others. In the Book of Proverbs we hear these words: "Better a frank word of reproof than the love that will not speak." (Proverbs 27:5). Or, as another translation puts it, "Better open reproof than voiceless love". It's not enough just to have love in our hearts, if it never expresses itself in some very real and concrete ways. In fact, voiceless love is not really love at all. It is simply a form of weakness or cowardice. True love is active. It does what needs to be done, no matter how difficult the doing may be.

Fear is one of the most common obstacles which most of us face when we are thinking about warning another person about his or her behaviour. We imagine that they will become angry and defensive, perhaps even cutting off our relationship with them. Or we might fear what effect our words would have on the other person, and we tell ourselves that we

wouldn't want to upset them. But, "it would be a false compassion that would keep us from telling our neighbours their house is on fire because we did not want to upset them." (Homilies Alive).

How can we prepare ourselves if we need to undertake this distasteful task of warning another person about the danger they are in? First, we must make sure that the issue that we want to bring to the other is a serious one. Next, we need to examine our
motives for considering such correction. Love must be the overriding concern if we are to bring a word of correction to another person. It must be done out of genuine love for the other, and because we want nothing but the best for that other person. And finally, we must pray for the sensitivity to be kind, and for the courage to be brave.

Peace, Fr. John