Aug 12 2020 Reflection
Wednesday 12 August 2020
First Reading: EZ 9:1-7; 10:18-22
Responsorial Psalm:
The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.
PS 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel Reading: MT 18:15-20
Today’s Note: Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel Reading:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
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.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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.”
Reflection:
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Imagine you are part of the crowd at a major sporting event. Like everyone else, you are really excited. You’ve been following your team all season long, and you’re thrilled about their chances of winning the big game. When they score a point, you roar along with everyone else. You feel a special connection with the fans, as if you are part of something bigger than yourself.
If you can relate to that feeling, then you can probably understand what Jesus is saying here. Whenever we gather to pray and worship with other Christians, Jesus is there with us—and not only with us but in us. And because he lives in us, we are all connected to one another in what the Church calls the Communion of Saints.
This communion is not limited to those of us now on earth. It’s the communion we also have with all the people who have gone before us and are now with God in heaven, as well as those who are in purgatory. Think of all the sports stadiums that many people would fill!
Our life in Christ is never a solo affair. Always we are bound together, united with Jesus and all other believers throughout the ages. So whenever you pray, don’t forget that you’re in good company. Every time you come before God and bring him your needs, Jesus is interceding for you with his Father (Romans 8:34). Mary, Joseph, and all the saints are praying too. This is true whether you’re at Mass, with your family, praying with people “virtually,” or all by yourself in your room.
If you get excited cheering for the home team, think about what it would be like to be cheering for the Lord, surrounded by all the saints. That’s what’s going on in heaven right now (Revelation 7:15). When you pray here on earth, you are joining that great unnumbered choir of men and women in worship. And they are lifting up your prayers too!
“Lord, help me to remember that I never pray alone but with all your saints in heaven and on earth.”
