The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost ---- 10 September 2017

Matthew 18:15-20

15 "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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." 

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

·       Years ago, I was asked to supply at a congregation out in the countryside. The Church building sat all by itself with farm fields all around and a small parking lot on the side of the building. It looked like a nice place, too. There were two services scheduled and I arrived early.

·       A few more people arrived for the first service and we talked a bit while we waited for the person with the key to the building to arrive.

·       Long story short, that person never showed up. I asked who was to bring the key and no one knew. So there we were, about a dozen people there with me in the parking lot. We looked at each other and I said “Well, we’re here and where two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name, he’s there among them.” So we held an abbreviated service with a short sermon right here in the parking lot on that bright Fall morning.

·       We were there. The Word was proclaimed. Jesus was present and we worshiped the living God… in a parking lot… with an improvised service.

·       By the way, the church was opened for the second service. I don’t remember why it wasn’t open for the early service… and by now it doesn’t matter.

·       When we hear this verse from Matthew’s Gospel we might find it both comforting and comfortable. It tells us that whenever the church, the people of God, gather, Jesus himself is present with them, in a beautiful cathedral, at a kitchen table, or in a parking lot. When that happens, what is asked of the Father in Jesus’ name will be given, because it is he who asks through the people who bear his name.

·       It’s a powerful thought that as we gather here today Christ is present as well. We might wonder whether this is place is a special place where Christ is specifically present or is it a place to which bring Christ with us as we come. The answer would be “yes” to both. Christ is present here because we call this place ‘holy’ or ‘sacred’ since the people of God meet here and have met here for some time. It is also the place where the presence is made specific by the proclamation of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments.

·       On the other hand, where we come from to meet here is no less sacred and holy; it’s just that we lay those places aside to make ourselves aware of the presence of God.

·       The idea that Jesus is present whenever even a few people gather in his name is comforting in a time when it appears that so few people come to worship. Well, in many cases, they are worshiping elsewhere. And in any case, it is not the numbers that count. Leaving aside matters of taste or concerns over crowding, we may have to ask ourselves if the worship is more “worshipful” with 700 people present than it is with 45. The experience is certainly different, but is Jesus somehow more present?

·       If the people of God gather, if the Word is proclaimed, and the sacraments – in a sense, when the Word takes on flesh – Jesus is present. If the people of God gather in community to share a meal because they are the people of God and bear the name “Christian”, we can dare to say that Jesus is present.

·       Notice nothing has been said about the ‘worthiness’ of those people. The group of people called ‘Christians’ include sinners and troublesome people. The early part of this morning’s Gospel reading gives an outline for what in some places ‘fraternal correction’ or more simply ‘how to deal with troublesome people.’ Those verses recommend expulsion from the community as a last resort. Such people are to be treated as a Gentile and a tax collector, words that carry the weight of separation from the community to the people of Jesus’ time. Remember, however, who Jesus spent a lot of his time with – exactly such people estranged from the community. Such people and the troubles they cause are dealt with up front and not ignored or neglected. If they are separated, it is only so they can be brought back to the community where the presence of Jesus is known.

·       For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them., Pleasant or cranky, hopeful or glum, those who look up or those who look down… Saints and sinners all. In the community, Jesus is among us. It is his grace that saves and the cross we all received at Baptism is the sign of that saving, transforming, and freely-given grace. He’s here now, and he remains with us. Let’s face it; where else could we turn?

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