I remember the song, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”  That song was originally written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell; recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969 and then made popular by the Hollies the same year.   Some of the lyrics of the song say “I’m strong enough to carry him, so on we go.  His welfare is of my concern; no burden is he to bear.  He ain't heavy, he’s my brother.”

 That song says a lot about caring for each other, just as Jesus tells His disciples in today’s Gospel.  He calls us have the strength to carry each other, because “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.”  How important is it to have that strength?  In our Old Testament reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, the Lord says, “If I tell the wicked man that he shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked man from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” 

As true friends, we would not let our brothers and sisters do wrong without trying to persuade them to do what is right.  But what if they do continue to do wrong?  Our Lord gives us the steps to follow, go to him in private; if that does not work, bring someone else to help.  If that is to no avail, go to the Church and finally, realize that you have done all that you can. Why does our Lord give these action steps to His disciples?

 Jesus is insisting that all His followers, especially His ordained ministers, have the same selfless and   determined attitude that He has, to save every lost soul.  We are called to live as Christ lived.  We are called to do as He did, to give ourselves to each other in true friendship, to help each other come to Christ.

 – Bishop Roy Campbell