Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 19th week in ordinary time, August 13, 2025

Delivered by Elyanne from the Parish of Saint James in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 34: 1-12; Rs psalm 66: 1-3a.15.16-17; Matthew 18: 15-20.THE MEANING OF GATHERING IN THE NAMEOF THE LORD Our meditation today is entitled: TheMeaning of Gathering in the Name of the Lord. We always gather with differentpurposes and contexts. God helps and blesses us in our gatherings. For this,the Lord Jesus says that if two or three people gather in His name, he ispresent with them. Our gatherings in the name of the Lord are generally knownas acts of worship. Gathering in the name of God is ofcourse different from any meetings like old friends meet, friends meet togossip, playing jokes together, leisure among peers and many others. Thesemeetings have no spiritual character or signs of worship. These do not describe what Jesus says about gatheringin His name. Moreover, a meeting with intention to do evil and create trouble,certainly does not have the criteria of a meeting in God’s name. Gathering in the name of the Lord hassome basic elements, which we always have in our lives together as believers.When we say the name of God, it is the most obvious or easiest way ofworshiping the Lord. A short prayer in mentioning His holy name, for examplefootball teams always do before the match, this is a kind of gathering in thename of God. Here God is addressed and asked for His intercession, certainlynot for evil or bad purposes. The element of gathering as anecclesial community is a formal and authoritative form of worship. We have hereliturgical rites, sacramental celebrations and various devotional expressions.The Lord comes in His power through the sacraments, or He is convoked topresent and to bless these activities. One important factor that shows thistype of gathering is formal and authoritative is that the minister, ordinary orextraordinary, acts in the name of Jesus Christ himself who leads ourgatherings. The minister is the bridge for people and God. The element of gathering in the formof love is the real expression of how God acts and involves through our acts oflove that we do either together or personally. People gather to plan a programof empowering poor families, using the flag of the Church, this is an exampleof gathering in the name of the Lord. Members of the community discussinterpersonal relationships, including moment of brotherly or sisterlycorrection, this is also a kind of gathering in the name of God. In essence, God is present in thegathering of believers, who involve Him as part of the life and work they do,this is the principle of gathering in the name of the Lord. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus Christ, may we always carry out your will faithfully,and be always present in every moment of our lives. Glory to the Father and tothe Son and to the Holy spirit... In the name of the Father ...