Predators
Mid-West Man-Wolves, by Lichart Lections: The Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost ( Lectionary 23 ), AD 2026 A Homily: Lord, we pray for the preacher, for you know his sins are great. Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. For nearly 2000 years, the section of Matthew’s Gospel from which we read this morning has served as the gold standard for Christian church discipline. It’s simply good practice. Should a member of the community, of the ἐκκλησία, wrong you, Christ counsels us first to point out the fault in private, to have a discrete discussion. If that doesn’t work, you ought, as your next step, to bring in a couple of witnesses; not to gang up on anyone, but to provide perspective and accountability. We all need sounding- boards. Am I in the wrong in this particular situation? Should the conflict persist after that, then you must speak openly and plainly about it to the community as a whole. Lay all your cards out on the t...
