New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 18: Year A
Romans 13:8 to14: and Matthew 18:15to20
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Our Lord Jesus lived out this idea of 2 or 3. His favorite three were Simon Peter, John and James. He took only them with him to heal Jairus’ daughter; to the Mount of Transfiguration; and in the garden when he went to pray the night he was arrested. You might say that Peter, John and James were his “executive counsel.” They were all simple men, fishermen by trade.
Their important qualities were, and are, a good and loving heart, and a strong faith. They all had flaws. Peter was an ego-centric extrovert. John and James wanted to pre-arrange a position of glory for themselves in the kingdom. But notice that our Lord Jesus held onto them for his inner circle anyway.
Is there a lesson in this example of two or three for us today? In the passage from our Gospel lesson for this Sunday Jesus moves from a one-on-one situation to the whole Church on one. But in the middle he asks us to select one or two others to bear witness of the troubling situation.
There should be some backfire caution here. Those you pick may even say that you are not correct. Remember, we, like Peter, James and John, all have flaws but Jesus will love us and keep us anyway.
Can you pick two or three people from your faith community to stand by you in difficult times? Find one or two, and there will be three or four, because Jesus will be in the midst of you.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, and our schools
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 