“Where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.” (Mt 18:20)
There are many times in our lives where we feel as if we are all alone. We look for other people who may listen to us or be “on our side”.
We end up feeling much better when we know that we are not alone.
Jesus indicated that there is strength in numbers, even in prayer.
I have thought about this passage often in my life. I think Jesus indicated this because, when we gather with other people, even two or three, we are more focused. Left to ourselves, we can easily stray.
I have known many people who have gone on private retreats and who have returned saying that they got nothing out of it because they were continually distracted in prayer, distracted when they did spiritual reading, distracted when they tried to focus on the Lord.
Distraction is a part of our lives.
However, with one or two other people, if we are tempted to distraction, the others will bring us back to our original focus. As we pray together, work together, study together, everyone involved finds that they benefit.
When two or three gather in the name of the Lord, they have a better opportunity to encounter the Lord. It is not because the Lord is not with us when we are by ourselves. Rather, it is a reminder to us that the Lord dwells in all the people we encounter. He is in our midst because He is in the other people with whom we gather.
When we recognize the Lord in others, we grow, spiritually, by leaps and bounds.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for the people who are a regular part of your life. If possible, gather with one or two of them today and pray together.