14 August 2019 - where two or three are gathered

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (see Psalm 133:1)

As Church, we are called to be one even as Jesus and the Father are one. This is meant to be so profound that it is can be a witness to the world of our identity as Christians.

that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me (see John 17:21).

We are called to be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (see Ephesians 4:3). This is what happened in the early Church.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common (see Acts 4:32).

Unity is a basic condition of being powerful and victorious in our Christian walk.

Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.

We've been trying to live this life solo for too long. We have policies on non-interference, content to let others go astray without so much as a word. But we are in some sense our brothers keeper. We should meddle when souls are at stake.

If he does not listen, 
take one or two others along with you,
so that  every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.

We want to all be on the same page, united in the same truth, so that we can come together to make around the same prayer intentions. Then those intentions will have power. Israel was united around Moses because there was never a prophet like him whom the LORD knew face to face. We unite around Christ who is God himself. He is perfectly able to mediate our disputes and forgive us the sins that separate us from each other and from him. If the world seems to be lacking in signs and wonders than perhaps it is this unity around Jesus which is lacking. In what ways can we enter into it more deeply and more intentionally?

Bless our God, you peoples; 
loudly sound his praise.