>>So, I grew up in Mt. Prospect. I have two older sisters and a younger brother which makes me the third child. You read all sorts of things about the third child in a family and it is true. I was my parent’s favorite child.

[laughter]

One of the things I do know about, at least my childhood, I don’t know if it had anything to do with being a third child but I can remember sitting at the dinner table. My brother Pete, who is the nicest guy in the world. Did you hear that Pete? Nicest guy in the world.

[laughter]

I would tease him constantly, but I would do it without trying to get caught. And so, during the meal all the time I would do that “see food” thing, where you open your mouth and show “see food,” as it were. And it would drive him crazy and I knew it would drive him crazy.

And I can hear my mother, even now, say: “Just ignore him!” Just ignore him. Referring to me.

But I would keep in up. And I could get it going enough that he would jump out of his chair and then it would start and he would chase me. And in our house you could do a complete circle- kitchen, living room, hallway, down the hallway and back into the kitchen. And he would chase after me and he’s a tougher kid than I am.

Anyways, this one time we were “at it,” as it were. He slipped, fell, and cut himself pretty bad. And of course, I felt terrible.

And my mother and father: “Now, you apologize to your brother!”

But I just… You know how hard that is at times. But I did feel terrible and I wanted to apologize, but I held back. And eventually I did. And I remember that moment, because once I said I was sorry made all the difference in the world. You just feel better. The heart is less hardened and things are reconciled.

Being a disciple of Jesus means being one who reconciles. It means one who seeks forgiveness and one who offers forgiveness. It’s part and parcel of the gospel.

In the gospel today, we’re given a remedy about how to reconcile. But, hopefully the first step -the easiest step, the best step- is just to say to the person who you’ve offended, “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry from the heart. It costs nothing to say ‘I’m sorry!’ and you can gain everything by doing so.