September 7, 2008

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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Please read

Matthew 18:15-20

Read also

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 148

Romans 13:8-14

"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.

But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly I tell you, 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."

.       Interpersonal Relations      .

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Sometimes the “two or three”

are not quite in agreement.

Disputes arise.

I sin against my brother and he against me.

That calls for honest interchange,

one on one,

and if that doesn’t work,

widen the circle. 

Bring in a couple more

to bear their witness,

to arbitrate and intervene.

Still no success?

It’s time to widen the circle further,

enlist the whole community,

letting the Spirit work and witness

through the assembled company.

But, people being people,

there comes the time to draw the line.

And what applies to disagreements,

applies to agreement too.

So come together,

let the Spirit work.

You and one or two others

with God

make a majority.

That’s all it takes

to unleash heaven’s power. 

--- rvc