Homily for Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time

A cherished tradition teaches that whenever two Jewish people sit together to discuss the Torah, God's presence is with them. Jesus makes a related but distinct assertion: wherever two or three are gathered in His name, He is among them. Matthew has already revealed Jesus as Emmanuel, "God-with-us," emphasizing that He embodies God's presence. Whenever His followers gather in His name with reverence, He is present as Emmanuel, "God-with-us."

Whenever we gather in the Lord's name to pray—whether during the Eucharist or in any other form of prayer—the Lord is always with us. We are not merely entering His presence at such times; we are already within it. Our task is to become aware of the One who is present among us. This is why attention, or conscious awareness, lies at the heart of all prayer, whether offered privately or in community.