09/01/2026
This past weekend our parish experienced a full, rich weekend during the episcopal visit from our Bishop, Darryl Fitzwater. It was a reminder to us of the wider church that we are a part of, and a linking of this body of Christians with the wider Church. This was especially clear when confirmations, prayers, and the laying on of hands reminded us that we belong to something larger, older, and deeper than our own congregation. The Bishop’s presence was truly pastoral this weekend. It was a sign that Christ keeps His promise to be among His people when they gather in His name.
That promise is at the heart of this week’s Gospel reading, Matthew 18:15–20, a passage that speaks directly to the life of the Church under pressure—which happens to be the theme of Sunday’s sermon from Romans 12.
Jesus begins with a simple but demanding instruction: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” This is not a call to confrontation for its own sake. It is a call to reconciliation. The whole point here and of any sort of church discipline, is reconciliation. Bishop Darryl touched on this during one of his talks with us. It assumes that relationships within the Church matter enough to pursue repair rather than resentment. It assumes that sincere love is willing to speak truth gently, privately, and with the hope of restoration.
In other words, Jesus gives us a process for dealing with conflict that refuses retaliation, refuses gossip, and refuses the easy path of avoidance. It is the Gospel applied to relationships.
To continue reading Fr. Eric's message, go to 🔗 https://htcanglican.org/blog/Where-two-or-three-are-gathered
