Loving God, you know us through and through, and you know that we are still learning to love as Jesus loved.  Open our hearts and minds to the power of your Spirit, transforming us into the image of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Already, when the gospel of Matthew was written, there was conflict among those who followed Jesus.  Can you believe it?... These are the same people who were told by Jesus, “love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).  Yet, wherever human beings gather in community, conflict almost always arises.  This was true among Jesus’ very first disciples, and it is still true today.  The question is not, how do we avoid conflict, but what do we do with it when it does arise.

         One option is to run away – or walk away, if you prefer, and never come back.  Some people have made this choice when it comes to the church, either not wanting to deal with conflict, or having been hurt by things that have happened in the church.  While this is an understandable response, it has the effect of cutting people off from the body of Christ and the growth in faith and in love that only happens in community.  It is significant that Jesus did not encourage people to follow him or believe in him all by themselves, but always as part of a gathered community.

         A second option, when it comes to conflict, is to bury it and hope that it goes away.  In this case, people stay engaged in the gathered community that is the church, but never discuss things openly and honestly.  Some might end up carrying a grudge against others in the community, and some might end up carrying on with the same pattern of behaviour that caused the conflict in the first place.

         A third option, which is preferred by some, is to have a really good, knock-down-drag-out fight, with lots of yelling, and stamping your feet, and hurling insults at one another.  This usually doesn’t solve very much, other than seeing who has the loudest voice.  While I have never witnessed a fistfight in the church, this does not mean that it has never happened!

         Finally, we get to the manner of dealing with things that is laid out in today’s gospel.  In this scenario, there is an individual who has sinned – either against one individual, or against the community as a whole.  So, let’s say, just by way of example, that one of the members has been stealing money from a congregation, and another member discovers what is happening.  The place to begin is a one-on-one conversation with the individual, done respectfully and calmly, saying that this behaviour is not right and cannot continue.

         If the individual agrees with this assessment, knows it is wrong, is willing to make things right, and asks for forgiveness, then reconciliation is possible.  However, if the person is unrepentant, or defiant, or unwilling to listen, then two or three witnesses are to be brought into the conversation – for, perhaps the person will have a change of heart if there are witnesses.  Finally, if they are still unrepentant, the entire community would be informed and would confront the individual in love.  Should they still refuse to listen, then they are to be sent out from the community, and, should criminal charges be warranted, charged.

         The goal of this whole process is not to punish the offender, but to at least allow for the possibility of reconciliation.  Sometimes that isn’t possible, but it is always the preferred option.  It also needs to be pointed out that all of us are sinners, and we are not asked to confront every single sin in one another.  However, when the health of the community is at risk, or when hurt is being caused to other people, it does need to be addressed.  We all are still learning how to live in love.

         Our reading today from Romans reminds us that “love is the fulfilling of the law” (13:10).  “Love your neighbor as yourself” comes from Leviticus (19:18), and was lifted up by Jesus as an important piece of loving God with our whole heart and soul and mind.  It refers, not just to the person who lives next door, but to anybody who interacts with us.  Sometimes, as in today’s gospel, love also includes reproving someone who has sinned.  It is an opportunity to mitigate harm, and potentially to produce repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.  It also begins with the love that God first had for us.

         The good news in all of this is that, where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus – whether to pray, or to make a decision, or to worship, or to confront sin – Jesus is there.  Jesus is there in the midst of them, and Jesus is here in our midst.  As members of the body of Christ, we are never left to our own devices when we remain open to the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we seek wisdom and truth together, the Spirit gives gifts like discernment, and hope, and even love.  Thanks be to God, who continues to work within and through the body of Christ, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance and discover life in all its fulness, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Lectionary 23(A)                              Matthew 18:15-20

September 10, 2023                       Romans 13:8-14

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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