“Where two or three gather in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” Mt. 18:15-20

Jesus is instructing the disciples and is now addressing sins that directly affect the community: an offense that someone else does to me, or that is done to another person in the community. And the process that He teaches is very wise, very respectful, in three progressive steps. (It’s worth reading twice.) Forgiveness and mutual reconciliation must be sought by all means. In that forgiveness God’s forgiveness is manifested. Perhaps Matthew’s idea is that the Church has to be a healthy, harmonious community, in which people are not tolerated at odds and divided. And the strength of the community, which makes this process of reconciliation possible, lies in the fact that Jesus is always in the midst of those gathered in his name. Counting on that loving presence of Jesus in your family, in your group, in your community, review your mutual relationships today and if you feel that this Gospel invites you to do something, ask for the lucidity to mediate there, and the grace to do it.