He is in our midst

Although Jesus’ words that Matthew recorded are of great importance for the life of Christian communities, they rarely attract the attention of commentators and preachers.  This is Jesus’ promise: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Jesus is not thinking of celebrations attended by huge crowds, like those at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.  Though there are only two or three, there he is among them.  It is not necessary that the hierarchy be present; there is no need for many to gather together.

What is important is that “they are gathered together,” not scattered, not opposing each other, not discrediting one another.  What is decisive is that they come together “in his name,” that they listen to his call, identify with his project of bringing about God’s kingdom, that Jesus be the center of their small group.

This living and real presence of Jesus is what should animate, guide and sustain the small communities of his followers.  It is Jesus who has to breathe life into their prayer, their celebrations, their projects and activities.  This presence is the “secret” of every living Christian community.

We Christians cannot gather together in our groups and communities in just any manner, say, by force of habit, out of passivity or just to fulfill some religious obligation.  We may be many, or only a few, perhaps.  But what is important is that we are gathered together in his name, attracted by his person and by his project of making a world that is fit for humans.

We need to reawaken our awareness that we are Jesus’ communities.  We gather to listen to his Gospel, to keep his memory alive, to catch his Spirit, to welcome in ourselves his joy and his peace, to announce his Good News.

The future of the Christian faith depends for the most part on what we Christian do in our concrete communities these next decades.  What Pope Francis can do in the Vatican is not enough.  Nor can we put our hope in a handful of priests who may be ordained these coming years.  Our only hope is Jesus Christ.

We are the ones who have to center our Christian communities in the person of Jesus as the only force that can regenerate our worn-out and routine faith.  He is the only person who is capable of attracting today’s men and women.  He is the only one who can engender a new faith in these times of unbelief.  The renewal of the Church’s centers of authority is urgent.  Reform decrees are necessary. But there is nothing as decisive as returning radically to Jesus Christ.

José Antonio Pagola

September 7, 2014
23 Ordinary Time (A)
Matthew 18, 15-20