Introduction
I have grown up in the Church and I regularly express my belief in the “communion of saints.” I have two stories to share briefly here about the gathering of saints in my life.
The first story comes from the distress some of my students felt when they were told by a visiting priest that the word “saint” only applied to those who made it into heaven. I had taught them that those who sought to follow Jesus are saints. I am convinced that my better half is a saint.
And so is my daughter. Recently, I messaged her about a statue perched on a rooftop in the school where she teaches. I spotted the statue when I walked past the school on my way to the train station. Sure enough, it is a statue of St Joseph, on the roof of the St Joseph wing, where she teaches RE.
Yes, I believe in the communion of saints, both here on earth and in heaven. Amen.
The Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’ (Matthew 18:15-20)
The Enquiry
See
Put in your own words what you think Jesus is teaching his followers here. What link does Jesus make between listening and reconciliation? Is choosing to avoid listening a form of injustice?
What has been the impact of his teaching on his followers and on the world since then? What evidence can you present to show that Pope Leo XIV lives by Jesus’ message here?
Which group(s) do you belong to that gather in the name of Jesus? Why does Jesus make a commitment to be with those who gather in his name? Why is prayer a necessary part of seeking justice?
Judge
What have you discovered about Jesus in this Gospel that might have escaped your awareness of him?
What is there in his teaching that you think would improve people’s lives if they took him seriously and followed him faithfully?
This Gospel seems to be a collection of sayings by Jesus, bound together by a shared theme. Which part(s) of the Gospel challenge(s) you to seek to change so as to become more like Christ?
Act
Given what you have been reflecting on through this Gospel, what do you want to change in the world and in yourself that will bring you closer to Jesus?
What small action can you carry out that will contribute to bringing about this transformation of the world and yourself?
Who can you involve in your action, when, where and how often?
Image Source: Robert Wilhelm Ekman (Creator), Jesus wakes Lazarus, a painting from 1860 in the Finnish National Gallery, rawpixel.com, PDM 1.0