To help the listener
The reader could use these words to provide context to today's reading(s): Ezekiel 33.7-11, Romans 13.8-14, Matthew 18.15-20.
The focus of the Gospel reading is on how we treat one another in our communities, calling out sin, helping one another to live as Jesus wants us to.
It is the central theme of all three of today’s readings, because we can only live well if we help each other.