“Where two or three gather,” 23rd Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

¹⁵ “Now if your brother sins^[a], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the^]testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed. ¹⁷ And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them ^[l]by My Father who is in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Gospel Commentary:

Jesus gives us a simple guide on how to live peacefully with our neighbors and fellow BEC members when misunderstandings or hurt happen.

1. The Three Steps to Fix a Hurt

When a fellow Christian hurts or offends you, Jesus gives us three steps to follow:

• Step 1: Talk Privately
  • Speak directly to the person—just the two of you.
  • Do not talk to others about it first. Protect their dignity, avoid tsimis (gossip), and give them a chance to make things right.
    
• Step 2: Bring One or Two Companions
  • If they refuse to listen, bring one or two trusted, fair-minded friends or BEC leaders.
  • They are not there to take sides or gang up on anyone, but to help bring peace and listen carefully to both sides.
    
• Step 3: Bring It to the Community
  • If the problem still isn’t solved, share it with the whole BEC family or parish leaders.
  • If they still refuse to listen, treat them like a non-believer—which means do not hate them, but keep praying for them and welcoming them back, just as Jesus loved and welcomed outsiders.

2. Jesus Belongs in Our Small Group

• Verse 20: “where two or three are gathered in my name…”
  
• Our Small Group Matters: You do not need a huge crowd or a grand cathedral to meet God.
  
• Jesus is Right There: Jesus promises that whenever even two or three of us gather in His name to pray, care for each other, or settle a disagreement, He is standing right there in our midst.
  

Why This Matters for Our BEC

• Stopping Gossip: In a neighborhood, bad news and rumors spread fast. Jesus asks us to talk to people, not about people.
  
• Keeping Our Fellowship Peaceful: Wisdom, patience, and life experience are precious gifts. You help build a peaceful neighborhood where people heal relationships instead of holding grudges.
  
• Finding Joy in Small Numbers: Even if only a few of us show up for our weekly BEC meeting or Rosary, Jesus is fully present with us.

Reflection Quetions:

1. Personal – When someone hurts my feelings, do I go talk to them quietly with love, or do I tell other neighbors first?
   
2. For our BEC: When member of our BEC disagree, do we help them make peace, or do we let factions and silent treatments divide us?