It is the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Today’s Bach cantata is “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ” (I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ):

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 18:15-20:

Dealing With Sin in the Church

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The text of today’s piece is available here. It contains these words:

I call to You, Lord Jesus Christ,
I beg You, hear my cries,
grant me mercy at this time,
do not let me despair;
the true faith, Lord, I mean
that You would give me,
to live for You,
to be of use to my neighbor,
to keep Your word faithfully.

. . . .

Grant, that from the bottom of my heart
I might forgive my enemies,
pardon me also at this time,
give me a new life;
may Your word always be my food,
to nourish my soul,
to protect me,
when misfortune approaches,
that might quickly turn me aside.

Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.