Think about who you might need to reconcile with today

If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. If he doesn't listen, bring one or two others with you so that each fact can be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen to the Church as well, treat him as you would a gentile or a tax collector ”. Matthew 18: 15-17

Here is presented a clear method of solving problems given to us by Jesus. First of all, the fact that Jesus offers a basic method for solving problems reveals that life will present us with problems to solve. This shouldn't surprise or shock us. It's just life.

Too often, when someone sins against us or lives in a publicly sinful way, we enter into judgment and condemnation. As a result, we can easily delete them. If this is done, it is a sign of lack of mercy and humility on our part. Mercy and humility will lead us to desire forgiveness and reconciliation. Mercy and humility will help us see the sins of others as opportunities for greater love rather than as grounds for condemnation.

How do you approach people who have sinned, especially when the sin is against you? Jesus makes it clear that if you have sinned against yourself you should do everything to win back the sinner. You should spend a lot of energy loving them and doing everything possible to reconcile them and bring them back to the truth.

You need to start with a one-to-one conversation. From there, engage other trusted people in the conversation. The ultimate goal is the truth and doing everything possible to let the truth restore your relationship. Only after trying everything should you then clean the dust off your feet and treat them as sinners if they are not persuaded to the truth. But this too is an act of love as it is a way to help them see the consequences of their sin.

Think about who you might need to reconcile with today. Maybe you haven't yet had that initial personal conversation required as a first step. Maybe you are afraid to start it or maybe you have already deleted them. Pray for grace, mercy, love and humility so that you can reach those who hurt you the way Jesus wants.

Lord, help me to let go of any pride that prevents me from being merciful and seeking reconciliation. Help me reconcile when the sin against me is small or even great. May the compassion of your heart fill mine so that peace can be restored. Jesus I believe in you.