Where 2 or 3...

The gospel for this weekend, Matthew 18:15-20, is a gospel of reconciliation, hope, and prayer. If your brother sins against you there is an order to be followed. Hopefully reconciliation between the two will be productive. When that does not work you can have two or three witnesses listen to what is going on. If that does not work, then take them to the church. If they do not listen to the church, then treat them as you would a Gentile or tax collector. The task at hand is forgiveness and reconciliation and that is what we are called to do as church. "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Those are the same words that Jesus spoke to Peter when he gave him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. There is authority in those words but also the hope of reconciliation. The key to all of this is prayer. Whatever is going on in the lives of those brothers needs to be brought in prayer and this is where we have the blessed assurance, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Our Lord is with us at all times. He wants us to listen to the words of Scripture and take them to heart. He wants us to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters. He wants us to live as church- being a people of prayer and reaching out in service to all peoples. We proclaim the gospel, not just with words, but with our very lives. Let us pray for the grace to do just that because the Lord is listening and He does answer our prayers! Have a blessed weekend!!!