Ezekiel 33:7-9 / Romans 13:8-10 / Matthew 18:15-20
God created this world and it is a beautiful creation.
This world is beautiful because God created it with His love.
And God's best and most beautiful creation is human beings.
God created human beings with the best and in the best of His love, because God created human beings in His image.
So, the world and all creation point to the creative power of God who makes all things beautiful.
But it is in human beings that God's image is reflected.
And that image is expressed in love, holiness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, compassion, forgiveness, peace, wisdom, and truth.
In other words, that image expresses all the attributes of God.
And because human beings are created in the image of God, each person has a dignity that is to be respected.
A person's dignity cannot be taken away by others because it is a God-given dignity.
But the surprising thing is that a person can disrespect and disregard his own dignity.
He does that when he commits wrongdoing and sinful acts against others.
In doing so, he also disregards and disrespects the dignity of others.
In the Gospel, Jesus said, "If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves."
Jesus continues, "If he listens to you, you have won back your brother."
The purpose of addressing the wrongdoing is to win back the other person.
It is to win him back to God so that he could see himself as being made in the image of God.
But we also have to be aware that our human nature has been disfigured and distorted by sin.
And this is where “having it out” or addressing the wrongdoing may end in accusation and confrontation.
And here is where we have to pay attention to what Jesus says at the end of the gospel passage.
Jesus said, "I tell you solemnly, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For when two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them."
That is a solemn promise of Jesus to us, and that promise is fulfilled when we gather in prayer.
In prayer, God renews His image in us, the image of love, holiness, kindness, gentleness, goodness, forgiveness, compassion, patience, wisdom, and truth.
In prayer, our human nature is recreated into the image of God, so that we can listen to the voice of God and know what His will is.
And when we agree to ask for anything in prayer, it is not about what we want, but about what the Lord our God wants.
Because the word "agree" in the original language has the meaning of symphony and harmony.
So, it is not that two or three people happen to pray for the same thing.
It is about being gathered in Christ to understand His will, and to be united in prayer so as to carry out God's will.
In other words, we pray so that we will know what to do and to do it in God's way.
When we address a wrongdoing in God's way, there will be love, there will be peace, there will be reconciliation.
So, where two or three meet, Jesus will be there, and their prayer will be heard and answered.
It is not about the power of numbers, but the power of the presence of Jesus.
A pilgrim shared a beautiful example of this at the World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023.
About 1.5 million young people gathered for the final celebration.
Imagine the noise! Young people were singing, talking, eating, laughing and walking around.
The scene as chaotic and full of activity.
And then the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.
And something extraordinary happened.
1.5 million young people became silent.
The enormous crowd became calm. Many knelt down in adoration. Why?
Because they knew that the One who was in their midst was more important than the one million people around them.
They had not gathered just to see the Pope.
They had not gathered just to meet other young Catholics.
They had gathered for Christ.
And when Christ became the focus, the crowd became a community of worship.
That is the power of gathering in the name Jesus.
But whether it is 1.5 million people, or 15 people, or 5 people or less, let us remember what Jesus promised.
Jesus promised that where two or three are gathered in His name in prayer, He will be there.
And when the Church, the Body of Christ, is united in prayer, then beautiful things will happen.
Because united in prayer in the presence of Christ, there will be conversion and repentance, there will be forgiveness and healing.
And the world will be beautiful, and humanity (people) will also be beautiful.
So, let us be united in prayer, and Jesus will show us how beautiful and how powerful prayer can be.