Where Two or Three are Gathered

DAILY BYTE

In Matthew 18:20 we read this well-known saying of Jesus, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” It’s a verse that’s often quoted when there is a disappointing turn-out at a church event, encouraging the die-hard faithfuls that even though they may be few in number, Christ is still present. And of course that’s true. How wonderful that when it comes to church gatherings of any kind – yes, even Circuit Quarterly Meetings, Synods and Conferences – Jesus never sends his apologies.

But I’m not convinced that this is primarily what Jesus was getting at when he offered this beautiful assurance of his presence. For one thing, Jesus is always with us even when we are on our own (see Matthew 28:20 for that promise), so this verse can’t mean that he is suddenly present when two or more come together, where before he wasn’t.

What I’ve recently noticed that I’ve never paid attention to before, is that this saying of Jesus comes in the context of a passage (Mt 18:15-20) that deals with the reality of conflict within the church. The passage (which we’ll explore tomorrow) speaks about the importance of dealing with conflict and the lengths to which brothers (and sisters) in the church are expected to go to address wrongdoing. The passage doesn’t sugarcoat the issue at all and refuses to offer any glib reassurances that ‘everything is gonna be OK!’ It offers the sober recognition that the work of reconciliation requires maturity, perseverance and the support of the community, and even then it can encounter resistance and seem futile.

But here’s the point. As we engage in this ministry, as we engage with others with the intention of dealing with our differences and discovering the joy of reconciliation – which is precisely what it means to ‘come together in Jesus’ name’ – we find that Christ is there, an active participant in this ministry of reconciliation. Indeed, it is as we struggle to find one another across the divide of our differences that we come to know Christ and his presence with us in a way that we couldn’t possibly know when everything is all plain sailing and hunky-dory.

So we should be encouraged to persevere, doggedly holding on to those whom it would be so much easier just to reject and abandon, trusting that as we seek to find true reconciliation Christ is indeed with us, cheering us on and offering the gifts of his power and peace as we look for the vital difference that his reconciling presence brings.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross we see the true nature of your reconciling love and the lengths to which you were willing to go to win us back to you. Thank you that it is precisely this reconciling presence of yours that can be known whenever even two or three come together in the hope of finding one another beyond their differences. Help me to remember this, especially in the difficult relationships that I face. Thank you that you are there! Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.