CORRECTION FLUID?

“Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!’ ” –1 Samuel 1:13-14

Mass Readings: January 9
First: 1 Samuel 1:9-20; Resp: 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8; Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Listen to the Mass Readings

In addition to accepting correction (see Prv 12:1), we as disciples of Christ must be open to giving correction (Lk 17:3; Gal 6:1). After first removing the plank of sin from our eyes (Mt 7:5), we must correct others in love and call them to repent. How we give correction is one of the most important aspects of our lives.

Eli falsely corrected Hannah of being drunk (1 Sm 1:14). He also feebly corrected his sons for immorality (1 Sm 2:23-24). “They disregarded their father’s warning” (1 Sm 2:25). The Lord was so displeased with Eli that He announced through Samuel: “I am condemning his family once and for all, because of this crime: though he knew his sons were blaspheming God, he did not reprove them” (1 Sm 3:13).

The Lord holds us accountable for giving correction. He says to us: “If I say to the wicked man, you shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death” (Ez 3:18; see also Ez 33:6). Speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), or you will risk being held accountable for the deaths of sinners.

PRAYER: Father, may I repent of the sin which has the strongest hold on me. May I also have the courage and love to correct people as I have never done before.
PROMISE: “He gives orders to unclean spirits and they obey!” —Mk 1:27
PRAISE: In prayer, George eventually saw that his father’s correction was done out of love and so he reconciled with him.