The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 18: Year A
“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 own 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. Even though they all had flaws. Peter was an ego-centric extrovert. John and James wanted to prearrange a position of glory for themselves in the kingdom. But notice that our Lord Jesus held onto them for his inner circle even with their imperfections.
The other side of this lesson is that we ourselves, may be indeed the one that two or three come to for listening and reconciliation. In such a case, we must not harden our hearts in denial and resistance to admitting our own faults.
Is there a lesson in this example of these three for us? In the passage from our Gospel lesson for this Sunday Jesus moves from a one-on-one situation to the whole Church. But in the middle, he asks us to select one or two others to bear witness of our troubling situations. Can you pick two or three people from your faith community to stand by you in difficult times? Find 2, and you will make three, and Jesus is with thee.
As we listen to Jesus’ final words in this reading he says, “If the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector:” Matthew 18:17. But as we look at how Jesus treats those outside of Israel, we see that he accepts them and helps them as if they were Israelites. He healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman in Matthew Chapter 15; and brings Matthew, a Tax Collector, in as part of the 12, whose words we are reading today. So, we treat outsiders and tax collectors no different. Thank you Jesus.
The truthful message of Jesus is to love everybody, no exceptions, even if there is conflict. Try to resolve it, but when all is said and done, let love prevail.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us Pray: Proper 18 The Sunday closest to September 7 (BCP p.234)
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 