17 Pentecost A, Proper 18 RCL, September 7,2008
St. James Zanesville
Kathryn P. Clausen

Exodus 12:1-14
Psalm 149
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20

“Community”

I think today’s gospel has a lot to tell us about reconciliation and living in community. This chapter of Matthew begins with a lot of radical exaggerations. He chides the disciples about putting stumbling blocks in the way of a child’s faith in him, and condemns this to a millstone around the neck. And he tells them to cut off any hand or foot that causes them to stumble, and to pluck out the eye that causes them to stumble. And the shepherd is supposed to leave 99 sheep to find one lost one. All of these stories are about getting in the way of the faith of a believer. This talk of millstones and amputations and blindings is apparently a style of speaking that was used in Jesus’ time to make a significant point, to get the attention of the disciples. This does not sound like he meant it literally, he just meant that nothing should stand in the way of faith- not ambition, or distractions, or impediments in the road. Obstacles should be eliminated. Stay on track. Focus.

And in today’s message, he continues to address the issues that take our attention away from God. This time it is closer to home. He is talking about strife and dissention. And he gives advice on how to reconcile with one’s neighbor, in this case, within the church. He talks about dealing with someone who “sinned” against you. That is an old-fashioned term. I suppose it includes telling lies, spreading rumors, home wrecking, or just doing something we don’t like. Whatever it is, if you are interested in restoring a friendship, then the person should be spoken to in confidence when you are alone. Many times there are just misunderstandings that can be cleared up. Or perhaps an apology is in order, either by the other person or by you, or perhaps both. The mere fact that you had the decency to talk to them alone might be sufficient to restore confidence and trust and the matter can be settled. If you are looking for satisfaction and have not gotten it, then the matter can be expanded to include others or even the entire church. If it reaches this point, though, we are no longer talking about reconciliation, but rather justice or even revenge. If a disagreement or slight needs arbitration or goes public, it is doubtful that friendship will be restored. Accusing or humiliating a person before others might win a case or give you a sense of satisfaction, but it will never win a friend. In fact, even if you are right, you would likely lose a friend forever.

Matthew is a person steeped in the Jewish tradition of law. So he likes to write in terms of justice and retribution. A disagreement is like a case against someone. It is adversarial and sort of relies on punishment and reward. And I think that is how he tells the story of Jesus. But what is coming through from Jesus is rather different. He seems to be talking more about restoring relationships than just winning or losing. Restoring relationship does not always require any concessions or changed behavior. It just means regaining mutual trust, telling the truth, and setting aside any residual anger or grievance. It may mean a willingness to make the first step or to admit contributory fault. Victory is not the goal of honest efforts at reconciliation. Friendship is. Why would it matter to Jesus whether people settle their differences or not? I believe it might be because anger and resentment can be all-consuming and can interfere with all other relationships, especially our relationship with God. There isn’t room in our hearts for prayer when we are so distracted by powerful emotions against other people.

Church is a worshipping community, not a single person. But to be in community, there needs to be mutual trust and love, not rancor and distrust. How could we possibly share a common cup with someone we hate? We would be thinking more about the hatred than about the blood of Christ. That is not a valid communion. That is why the church requires confession before Eucharist. It clears the air. But it also requires the exchange of the Peace. In the Roman rite, the peace is exchanged just before the invitation to come to the table. It is the final act of reconciliation before sharing the Holy Eucharist. And it is not reconciliation with God, but rather with each other.

Jesus said, “wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There is a lot of talk these days about Jesus being our personal savior, or about our personal relationship with Jesus. Like our best buddy or something or the boy next door. But that is not what it says here. Jesus comes to us when we are in community, worshipping together. He comes to us when we are drawn together by our love of God. There is power in that. The prayers of the community are always more powerful than prayers of just one.

A priest friend of mine once told me that you cannot be a Christian alone. The Christian faith is a communal thing, something validated through the faith of the others gathered around us. Our faith is not self-authenticating. It is dependent on the faith of others. That is why in our tradition a priest cannot celebrate Eucharist alone. It is not valid. St. James Church is a powerful community of faith. I can see it when I look out among you. By your faith, you nurture the faith of all the others here. And they nurture yours. If your mind wanders during a sermon, God forbid, at least someone else is probably listening. If you are thinking about your grocery list during the general confession, someone else is probably regretting sins and making amends. If a noisy child interferes with prayer, maybe someone else didn’t hear and will pray for you. Jesus understood our weakness as individuals and the strength and power our faith can have when practiced in community. But it must be a community based on mutual trust and love and on a shared love of Jesus Christ.

More than two or three are gathered here today. So God is surely among us at this moment. This Eucharist will be valid. You will be fed and will be satisfied. God is good. Amen.