Today, the Lord provides us some invaluable practical wisdom for amending situations in which we have been hurt by others. It is interesting to observe that in so many cases, we find ourselves talking about the ways that we have been wronged to everyone else *except* the individual who has hurt us. The Lord gently but directly admonishes us in this and tells us that if we have been wronged, our first duty is to go directly to the person in question and talk to them in private about the issue…not blasting it all over social media or talking to friends about the issue behind the person’s back.
It is deeply ironic in this age of mass digital communication that interpersonal communication skills are on the decline. We are gradually losing the ability to talk with one another face-to-face and heart-to-heart. The Lord gives us a timeless corrective in today’s Gospel, however, and tells us that, no matter how difficult or hurtful it may be, we must always begin one-on-one. Admittedly, there will be times when this will not work. There will be instances when people are not open to receiving feedback, even if it comes from a number of others. In such situations, all we can do is pray that God might lead them to a place where reconciliation becomes possible. At the same time, if we take the Lord’s advice and talk *to* people instead of *about* people, we will often find that we are able to resolve matters in ways that nourish life-giving relationships in the love of the Lord.