Sunday 6th September, 14th Sunday after Trinity

Today’s Gospel reading (Matt 18:15-20) reminds us of the importance of reading Bible verses in context. Like me, you may well have heard the words of vv19-20 used as an encouragement for prayers and intercessions: “if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

But these words of Jesus are referring to a very specific set of circumstances: namely, how to handle the impact of sin on relationships within the church. Churches are not always easy environments – how could they be, when we are all sinful, flawed, fallible people? Problems, disagreements and disputes will arise. This should not be surprising. What matters is what we do about it.

There is not space here to go into detail on what Jesus says should be done, but the underlying principle is essential and easily overlooked. The objective is not to win the argument, to give opportunity for self-righteousness or judgementalism. Rather, Jesus seeks reconciliation and forgiveness, and the restoration of loving relationship, because Jesus is most easily found in the love between believers. Allowing resentments opportunity to fester, gossip to spread, or factions to develop, wounds the Body of Christ. The prayer that Jesus encourages us to offer in this circumstance is for the triumph of forgiveness over anger, mercy over judgement, healing over woundedness. This is the prayer that God will answer, because it’s the prayer that most closely reflects God’s heart for each of us.

Every blessing,

Roger