text: part 1 of 2
  Thank you Sr for this reflection.
  It is interesting how it is always assumed that the person taking offence is in the right and the offender is in the wrong. Experience indicates that the offended always feels they are in the right, and the offender does not always know s/he has offended. We overlook the small word 'listened' - we all need to feel that we have been listened to, been 'heard'. To me this passage is a call to reflect on our own reactions and to listen to one another; if that doesn't work - then a couple of wise impartial people from the communion can help us to 'hear' one another - without judging who is right and who is wrong (it is after all the Holy Spirit who convicts, people tend to accuse); and the church community as a whole - if it comes to that - needs to exercise this same 'listening to'. Continued