OPUS DEI LVIII

Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.” John said to him, “Master, we saw someone who is not one of us driving out devils in your name, and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.” Jesus said, “You must not stop him; no one who works a miracle in my name could soon afterwards speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against you is for you. If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, then in truth I tell you, he will certainly not loose his reward. However, anyone who is the downfall of one of these little ones who have faith in me would be better drowned in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around his neck. Alas, for the world that there should be such causes for falling! Causes of falling indeed there must be, but alas for anyone who provides them! If your hand or your foot should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away: it is better for you to enter into life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet, and be thrown into eternal fire. If your eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away: it is better to enter into life with one eye, than to have two eyes, and be thrown into the hell of fire where their worm shall never die nor their fire be put out. Isaiah 66:24 For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you make is salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven. For the Son of man has come to save what was lost.” THE LOST SHEEP Matthew 18:12-14

“Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? In truth, I tell you, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father that one of these little ones should be lost.”

BROTHERLY CORRECTION Matthew 18:15-18

“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: A single witness will not suffice to convict anyone of a crime or offence of any kind; whatever the misdemeanor, the evidence of two witnesses or three is required to sustain the charge. Deuteronomy 19:15