The Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus said, “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.”
Let us Pray the Collect for today: 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.
Possibly in today’s world, the single act which is most dangerous to congregations is mishandling of conflict between members of the congregation. There are numerous reasons. Foremost, this mishandling destroys trust, which damages relationships. But it also breeds gossip and character assassination, which can lead to loss of good reputation. Mishandling of conflict blurs the facts and leaves the conflict unresolved. Such unresolved conflicts are infected wounds in the Body of Christ. These conflicts result in parking lot gossip sessions which do nothing to correct the situation. I wonder, how many of us do this? It appears in the scripture Jesus had the solution. What is your typical reaction when someone acts against you? Do you ignore them? Do you take some time to decide how you want to respond? Or do you nurse your anger or hurt, keeping that wound in your heart rather than talking to the individual. Or do you retaliate in a similar manner? Jesus provides a clear process for addressing offenses within a community. The first step is private dialogue: if someone sins against you, approach them alone to discuss the matter calmly and respectfully. This emphasizes personal responsibility, humility, and the desire for restoration rather than public shaming or retaliation. If the person does not listen, bringing one or two others ensures that the conversation is witnessed and validated, promoting fairness and accountability Only when all attempts fail should the matter be brought before the larger community, highlighting the priority of reconciliation over punishment Matthew teaches us the importance of reconciliation, humility, and the power of communal prayer, reminding us that Jesus is present whenever we gather in His name. A key lesson is that at least one person in the relationship must embody unconditional love, honesty, and forgiveness to restore broken relationships. Even when reconciliation seems difficult, maintaining hope for the other person’s wholeness and approaching the situation with prayer and patience reflects the heart of Christ. This gospel teaches that forgiveness is not merely a feeling but an active commitment to seek restoration. Do you wish to change how you respond to disputes with others? It is possible to do, if we keep alert and mindful. However, it may take us a period of time to change. However, if we choose to do this, then we have a conscious choice to make. We may begin to realize that we are happier and freer. In this process we not only freed ourselves from the pain, anger and hurt that we have been carrying. This Gospel reminds us, that prayer and agreement in God’s name carry divine authority. When two or three gather in Jesus’ name, He is present among them, reinforcing the idea that community and shared faith strengthen our efforts to resolve conflicts and seek guidance and to act with love, humility, and courage, knowing that God supports their pursuit of peace and reconciliation. Let us pray for the grace and courage we need in these situations. May we trust that God will give us the strength and courage we need!
Let us Pray: We are called into a community shaped by truth, mercy, and courage. Give us hearts willing to seek reconciliation, tongues that speak truth in love, and spirits humble enough to listen. Strengthen our Church with unity and wisdom, and let Your presence be known whenever we gather in Your name. Bind what is harmful, loose what is healing, and make us instruments of Your peace. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 