Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

- Matthew 18:10-20

In yesterday's reading, the disciples came and asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus drew to him a child and told them, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Jesus continues to speak of the "little ones" in the Church, the ones like little children, the meek and humble. My study bible notes here: "No one should despise humble Christians, because their guardian angels occupy foremost positions before God. . . . It is not the nature of God, but the weakness of men, which requires the angels' service. There are sent for the sake of those who will inherit salvation. (Heb. 1:14)." The point is that we must not forget the care with which God cares for each one.

"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish." We get the picture of the Good Shepherd, the gracious will of the loving Father in heaven, with regard to the essential importance of each little one. This picture is perhaps stark by contrast. My study bible has another quotable note: "The search for the lost sheep is an act of God in mercy and love for each person who goes astray. No first-century Palestinian shepherd would dare leave ninety-nine to find one, lest the wolves come and devour the flock (Luke 15:4). But God's love is so great He would see even the one that is straying." This picture of the Good Shepherd teaches us not only about God's love, but also God's omnipresent nature: God is there with each one of us; wherever we stray, God still seeks (Psalm 139:7).

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." Here Jesus sets out a formula for relationships within the Church. My study bible calls it a "classic form of Church discipline based on mutual correction, in three expanding stages." But we note the first verse, and its emphasis on the possibilities of reconciliation. Also, it's important to understand that sin and offense are not covered over, not merely ignored, but openly discussed and resolved. It begins in private, unless the offender fails to repent, to change his or her mind, to reconsider. My study bible says that in those cases, Christ teaches that the issue may have to be made public and corporate, coming before the whole Church. It adds, "All discipline must be done with great care and humility, for it is easy to be hypocritical in the way we judge."

"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." The message in these verses concerning the Church community teaches us about this community of the kingdom that Christ wishes to bring into the world, and how it should work. The emphasis is on humility and on mutual correction. But moreover this community is created by God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the power at work within it is something other than merely worldly. Again, a note is helpful here: "Temporal rulers have the power of binding, but they bind only the body. God, however, binds with a bond which pertains to the soul itself, a power which God has not given even to angels. God is with us. He has a special presence in heaven and in every church as well, through His grace and the sacraments. Mutual correction, which sometimes necessitates expulsion from the community, makes the Church strong and invincible through the love of Christ."

In today's reading, we begin to get a sense of this Church, and how Christ wishes for it to operate as a community, with God's presence among us. My study bible says that "the term church, which occurs only in Matthew among the Gospels, refers to the people of God, the community of faith. Jesus came to establish a congregation, gathered by Him and united with Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit." In today's verses, we begin to get a sense of what this church looks like and how it operates. It is clear He does not expect everything to go absolutely smoothly! Offenses will come, as He has said (in yesterday's reading). He has given us a formula for how they should be resolved and reconciled. Let us recall that it is all couched first in a formula for the leadership that counsels primary among all things humility, a reverence for the little ones, and the requirement even that they become as a little child before entering into the kingdom of heaven. So let us take this picture altogether, and it is one of grace, a great grace that permeates all of its meanings and values. What kind of leadership do we have in the church? Is it one in touch with these teachings? Is there love and grace that permeates it all? Or are offenses lost in a sea of gossip, or secrecy a convenient means of coverup? What is openly faced and discussed, and hence resolved and reconciled? Let it be a lesson to all of us of the model that Christ favors in all our disputes.