Because I love you

Nobody is perfect. Though the Lord tells us to be perfect just like the Father, because we are creatures, we have some limitations. In that case, perfection is becoming who we are as created by God. Everyone has his/her blind spot. We can not know everything. For this reason, we need the guidance of others. When necessary, we need to be corrected.

Telling somebody his faults or mistakes is one of the most difficult thing to do. Yet, it is one of the most important thing that we must do, especially as Christians. In the Gospels, Jesus painstakingly enumerated and detailed how fraternal correction maybe done. This sends the message that correction is part of every Christians responsibility. When we were baptized, we were incorporated to the family of God and had acquired the threefold functions of Jesus; prophet, pastor, and priest. Fraternal correction is based on the prophetic ministry given to us by virtue of baptism. We have the responsibility to proclaim the Word of God to everyone we meet. 

The book of the prophet Ezekiel reminds us that fraternal correction is not an option. There are consequences for doing and not doing it. When a wicked person is reminded of his guilt and he does not change, the wicked will die for his guilt but the neighbor who reminded him will be saved. But if the neighbor fails to correct the wicked and did not change, the wicked will die for his sins and the neighbor who did not correct him will be responsible for his death. We are our brother's keeper. 

We can see here that the purpose of the Lord is for the benefit of all; the wicked and the neighbor. What good will it be if we lie to make someone smile? Better to tell the truth and make somebody cry.

A helpful guideline would be to evaluate the correction to be made. First, it must be true. There must be certainty that what will  be said is true. Truth is worth telling even if it will hurt. Second, is it necessary? It maybe true but not really necessary or relevant. In other words, it may not be told and nothing substantial will be affected. If it is relevant, is being done out of love? St. Paul said that with love, one can never go wrong. Loving is always a fulfillment of the commandment. But loving here is not the romantic or the secular carnal kind. This is Christian loving, i.e. wishing the spiritual goodness of the other. Spiritual goodness means salvation. Therefore, fraternal correction must be done out of love for the sake of salvation.