Proper 18A + Two or three + 9.10.23

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Exodus 12:1–14; Ps. 149; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20)

 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

This reminds me of a story told me once. Someone said that as a child he went to a church service midweek with his mother. And when they showed up, the priest said he could not do the service as they didn’t have enough attendees. And this man, to whom this must have happened fifty years ago, turned to me and said, “I always heard that when two or three are gathered… there is God!”

And that is true. Additionally, this faithful Christian remained a churchgoer despite this moment, but he never forgot the moment of being made to feel unwelcome.

On the flipside, Reid and Susanna have regaled us with how welcomed they felt, when moments into attending All Saints, they were welcomed onto the choir. And what a blessed day that was!
As some wise person has said, people forget the words passed among them, but they remember how you made them feel.

So I think it is helpful to see today’s passages in the light of hospitality. One commentator on the weekly “Sermon Brainwave” that transmits via the Working Preacher website, Joy J. Moore, noticed this week the sweet moment in the Exodus reading that shows true hospitality. “If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it.” She noted that, as a single person, she is delighted when she is invited to eat with others, especially at holidays, and that she loves that this aspect of hospitality is involved in the observance of the Passover. It is true that there is something about a table being spread with food, and not just enjoying a solitary meal, on holidays or holy-days.

So too, when Jesus speaks about dealing with a person who has transgressed, I want to go to the end of the passage first. Because if, when two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, he is there amongst them, that means that when we are together it is a holy thing. If it is in the name and Spirit of Jesus. But sadly, when we human beings gather and two are together or three, and it is not in God’s name, it can lead to unholy action. Sadly, even in the church if we are not careful. We can witness sin and abuse. I am not talking here about a difference in style or politics. We are all entitled to express and think in our own ways. Too often this passage has been used to browbeat those who are simply different as opposed to what is meant to do – help heal a rift caused by hurtful actions.
But when hurts occur, Jesus reminds us not to get into our own echo chamber. He counsels us to address the hurt directly, but then if we are unsuccessful, to bring others who are also respected by the other person involved. If neither of these steps work to resolve a conflict, then the person is like a tax collector or a gentile. Well, as we know, that means that the person becomes the one to whom the church is sent. It does not mean someone is ostracized. It means that we need to reach out. They are not officially a member of the community, able to share leadership, until things have been resolved, but neither should we shut folks out.

I am always struck by the Ash Wednesday Liturgy that mentions how Lent can be a time of allowing those who have transgressed in some way to be returned to the fold. This is hard in our current world, as we don’t know what to do with wrongdoing. Do we totally cancel someone, or do we let it slide?
How about we find ways to name wrongdoing, give folks a chance to repent, and return to the fold?

You may have heard about something shocking that happened at our national church level when our new house of deputies president was elected. A bishop blocked this lay leader, who happens to be a younger woman of color, physically restrained her and made her feel assaulted right after her election. I don’t know all the details, but I have learned that I happen to know this retired bishop in passing. I am rather shocked, as are others who knew the bishop when he was active. I am grateful that the person who felt mistreated came forward about what happened. And at the same time, I am praying for our church. That the retired bishop can own what he did and understand why it was not right and make amends. If this happened due to him not being himself, I pray that that would somehow be shared in a sensitive manner with the person who was assaulted. I pray this does not have a long term impact on the woman involved, and on her sense of safety around leaders of the church. I pray for both of them.
This incident reminds me that when two or three human beings are together, there will be conflict. God is with us but so is dissension. Let us pray for Jesus’ presence among us, so that we can show hospitality to those who need it. So that we have the bravery to name wrong actions when they occur, but also so that we have the grace to listen and understand. When we are confronted, may we remember that we are not our actions, but we have to own our actions and try to do better. May we not remain in shame or guilt, but move forward, hopeful for a better future.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another.” So simply said here in Romans, so hard to do. We humans have a lot of ties on and with each other. Let us loose those which will harm us and strengthen the ties that bind us together in love.

Amen.