In today's Gospel reading Jesus makes a remarkable promise: "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."
I used to think this was a pretty good deal. If you wanted something, all you had to do was get two or three people together, say a prayer, and your wish would be granted. In fact, I have heard a number of sermons on this topic --- suggesting that God will grant us anything we ask for because we are gathered in God's name.
Of course, prayer is not that simple or formulaic. God is not a genie in a bottle who is obligated to grant our every wish so long as we abide by a few rules. Most of us figure this out after our prayers for wealth, beauty and fame, whether uttered in solitude or in a group, are not granted in the way we would like.
A close look at today's Gospel reading suggests that our expectations should not be for God to grant any wish we make when gathered with other believers. Jesus is in the midst of a discussion about how to reconcile broken relationships. If your brother sins against you, he says, resolve it. If it cannot be resolved between the parties, involve others. If that doesn't work, go to the church. If that doesn't work, the guilty party must face discipline. Then he talks about God's desire to grant the prayers of two or more believers.
Jesus appears to be more concerned about our relationships than our wealth, beauty or fame. God does not promise to grant any request we make --- unless perhaps it has to do with healing a broken relationship. This is consistent with Jesus' teaching in the rest of the Gospel --- people come before things, and love is more important than selfishness.
In today's second reading Paul reminds us of our highest calling as Christians: "'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law."
As I've said many times, it is hard for me to imagine loving anyone as much as I love myself --- I mean, I spend just about every waking hour taking care of myself and my family. How am I supposed to express equivalent dedication to the welfare of others? Yet this is how we are called to live as Christians. We are not to be complacent in the face of broken relationships, but to love that brother who has hurt us as much as we would want to be loved if we had been the offender.
God calls us to love people more than things. God calls us to be agents of healing. This is not easy, but it is important. It gets at what is at the heart of our faith --- forgiveness rather than judgment. If we are to gather to pray for anything, it is for this kind of reconciliation in our families, communities, and nation. Bill Peatman writes from Napa.
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