Where Two or Three Are Gathered

Matthew 18: 19-20

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.”

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Come together,
Right now,
Over me.

"Come Together" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by Aerosmith from the movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band"

This piece of Matthew's gospel is at the end of a discussion on church discipline. What it tells us is that when you have a disagreement with someone you should speak to them directly. If that doesn't work, if the other will not listen, then you are to take witnesses who can confirm what is going on. Then and only then do you take it to the church.

Now, this was a time when the Rabbi was a trusted scholar and moderator. The Rabbis worked things out by asking question after question to seek truth, so they were uniquely qualified to serve as moderators over conflicts.

Just a reminder, don't begin with the Rabbi. Only when people can't work it out, that's when you go to the Rabbi. If this doesn't work, then you cut them off from the community.

It sounds like an intervention, doesn't it. First casual conversation with the addict, then you bring in others who are harmed by the addict's actions, finally you bring in the specialist. Does the intervention always end well? No, it doesn't. But that's not enough reason not to try.

Still, what we are called to do is come together. We are called to come together with those who have harmed us. We are called to come together with those we have harmed. We are called to reconcile with those all around us. We are called to make reparations and to accept proper reparations being made. What is bound will be bound and what is loosed will be loosed.

It is when we come together, it is when we come together in agreement, it is when what we seek is in accord with what the Lord wants for us and our lives that what we seek will be done by our Father in heaven. This doesn't say that God will smite your neighbor on your behalf, only rarely can you get your neighbor to agree to that.

It is when we seek God, seeking answers in accord with the will of the Lord that we can ever truly agree, and then thy will be done.

Come together, right now, over the will of the Lord our God.