Last Sunday we were reminded that we all have crosses to carry throughout our lifetime as we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. These crosses can present themselves in a variety of ways: grief, employment, burdensome tasks, economic pressures, and physical or mental illness. Often these crosses are personal issues – struggles that don’t really seem to stem from any particular person but ourselves. However, what if our cross is another person? All of us have encountered individuals whom we have found annoying, disagree with, or have caused us harm. These people can be family members, friends, strangers, co-workers, and even the Church and her ministers. These crosses often prove themselves to be the most difficult parts of our lives. Our gospel this Sunday (Matthew 18:15-20) tells us that loving a person who has caused us harm can be painful and offering forgiveness to another person can be a burdensome cross. However, Jesus’ message to us this week is that we never have to do this alone. Jesus promises us his loving presence through a supportive community – a Church made of saints and sinners – when he says: “…where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”