10 September 2017

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 33:7-9
Ps 94
Rom 13:8-10
The Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

Rebuke for the sake of God … not your own

But the Apostle says, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may fear to do the like.” [1 Tim 5:20] Sometimes therefore your brother is to be spoken to between thee and him alone, sometimes to be rebuked before all. What you must do first, attend and learn; “If thy brother,” says He, “sin against thee, tell him of his fault between thee and him alone.” Why? Because he has sinned against you? What is it that he has sinned against you? You know that he has sinned, and therefore since his sin was in private, let your rebuke be in private too. For if you alone know of his trespass, and proceed to rebuke him before all, you do not correct but betray him. Your brother has sinned against you; if you alone know thereof, then he has sinned against you only; but if he did you a wrong in the presence of many, then he has sinned against those also who were witnesses of his fault. Those faults then are to be rebuked before all, that are committed before all; those which are done in private, are to be rebuked in private. Discern times, and the Scriptures are consistent.

But why do you correct your neighbour? Because his trespass has hurt yourself? Far be it from thee. If you do it from self-love, you do nought; if you do it from love of him, you do most rightly. Lastly, in what you shall say to him, keep in view for whose sake it is that you ought to do it, for your own or for his, for it follows, “If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother;” do it therefore for his sake, [p. 635] that you may gain him. And do you confess that by your sin against man you were lost; for if you were not lost, how has he gained you? Let none then make light of it when he sins against his brother.
St. Augustine, Catena Aurea

Saints of the week
Tue 12 The Most Holy Name of Mary  
Wed 13 Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor 
Thu 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast 
Fri 15 Our Lady of Sorrows 
Sat 16 Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs 

Psalter Week III

Next Sunday’s Readings
Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalms 77
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17

The Most Holy Name of Mary

We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to her who is the Mother of God, the holiest of creatures, the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Mercy. It was instituted in 1513 at Cuenca in Spain. After the siege of Vienna and the glorious victory of Sobieski over the Turks (12 Sept., 1683), the feast was extended to the universal Church by Innocent XI, and is kept on 12 September (11 September in the Ambrosian Calendar), the day on which the victory of Sobieski is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology. This feast is the patronal feast of the Clerics Regular of the Pious Schools (Piarists) and of the Society of Mary (Marianists). The Discalced Carmelites recite the Office of the Name of Mary four times a year. At Rome one of the twin churches at the Forum Trajani is dedicated to the Name of Mary. The significance of this feast is to commemorate all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through her intercession and mediation.
Cf. Most Holy Name of Mary,
Catholic Encyclopedia.

CARITAS PAPHOS currently needs:

• Nοn-perishable food to help about 40 households weekly.  
• Computer whiz -Teachers -Transportation. Prayers and donations always help and are welcome! Contact Wendy Burdon 99 040294.

Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona (99 494 140).

AMH FUNDRAISING: TRIP TO FAMAGUSTA, 11th Oct. 2017. Coach goes from Debenhams car park at 8 am. Includes visit to St. Barnabas Monastery. The cost is € 32.-  Call Mona: 99494140 or Linda: 99563287

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