Forgiveness, confrontation, and reconciliation when two or three are gathered
Sermon for Pentecost XV, 20203, delivered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY Text: Matthew 18:15-20 If there is one thing that I have learned well during my time as a productive, contributing adult in our society, it is that when you have at least two or three people gathered together, for whatever reason, there will be politics. A leader will emerge, and as the group grows from two or three, an anti-leader may emerge to keep the leader in check and advance another operating philosophy of the group. This is not always a Good Thing, because where contrast and difference can be a productive influence, it can also be a destructive force. You can’t avoid politics and leadership, and how they are dealt with depends on the individual members and the reason for the group. So it isn’t too much of a surprise to have Jesus addressing this in the Gospel reading this morning. It’s one of the few passages where he is clear on what to do in a specific situation. The necessity of th