Loosed on Earth

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But 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. If the member 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. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, 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. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:15-20

I have been thinking about the clothes line. It was a place of toil and a place of mystery. We would come home from the beach and sit on the low brick wall, waiting our turn for the outside shower and watch the towels flap in the breeze. As children, we would hide behind the sheets and try to scare people. I was always amazed at how things changed as they were pinned to the line. They became sails and flags and places of mystery. The full clothes line was also our weather vane. We knew when a storm was coming as the wind would pick up and send formerly pinned things flying. It was time to gather everything and bring it in before the storm hit. Otherwise, they may take off and end in another yard.

Jesus instructs his disciples about life in community, both within the church and in the wider community. People sometimes read this passage as affirmation for shunning folks, but remember that  Jesus  hung with gentiles and tax collectors and made some his disciples. No one is to be lost, even if their role has to change. Compassion and care are always the rule. We are not to let the wanderers fly off and be lost but gather everyone and protect all from the storms of life. 

Today I ask God to help me be kind and loving to those who do not listen and refuse to participate. May we live as people who have been forgiven and love, willing to run out as the dark clouds amass, so that all are brought in and saved.

Collect

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.