Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

¹⁵“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. ¹⁶But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Reflection:

Our gospel for today is from Matthew 18:15-20 which is a very fruitful gospel. The gospel gives us some important lessons about handling conflicts. It also teaches us the strength of coming together in prayer.

In verse 15 of Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus tells us to be a good listener. If someone does something wrong to us, we should talk to them instead. This is the first step in making things right when we have a problem with someone. There is no need for violence as what we can see in our recent society. As we can see, road rage is very rampant nowadays and people are so hot-headed. They no longer talk with calmness to resolve any conflicts. This is not what Jesus wants from us.

If talking doesn’t work, Jesus suggests bringing a few friends along to help you talk to the person who hurt you. Sometimes, having others there can make the person understand how they hurt you. This is what verse 17 in Matthew 18:15-20 explains and we have to try do this. Making amends is very important to maintain peace in everywhere we are.

In Matthew 18:15-20, we can come together and agree on something while praying. God is always with us and will always here our prayers. Jesus emphasizes that when we gather in His name, He’s with us. So, when we work together with love and forgiveness in our hearts, Jesus is there to guide us.

Jesus concludes by saying that when only a few people come together in His name, He’s among them. This reminds us that when we stand together in faith, it’s a powerful and meaningful thing.

In these verses, Jesus is present in each of us. He teaches us to handle conflicts with care, love, and understanding. He shows us that when we unite in prayer and faith, He’s right there with us, helping us make wise choices. It’s a message of healing, reconciliation, and the strength we find when we come together in Jesus’ name. – Clea | Helpline PH