CREED: what we believe shape our attitudes & actions

part 3: “Catholic Church - Reconciling”

“Catholic Church - Reconciling”

Reconciled To Reconcile

JOHN 13 (NIV)
34 (Jesus said,) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

The Heavenly Power of Reconciliation

MATTHEW 18 (NIV)
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Step-by-Step Reconciling Process

MATTHEW 18 (NIV)
15 (Jesus said,) “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

STEP 1 - “go and point out their fault”

Assess the situation, “what went wrong?”
Make the first move; leave your ego at the door.
Be mature, apologize. Own your part in it.
Let them talk; get their side of the story.

STEP 2 - “take one or two others along”

mediation helps when you can’t love by yourself
a mediator helps bring compromise, negotiation, relationship, respect and fairness

STEP 3 - “tell it to the church”

one individual dispute can affect the community
division in the community distracts from the mission

STEP 4 - “if they refuse to listen”

breaking relationship, but continuing to love