The influence and powerful results of communal prayer are quite apparent according to the words of our Lord. And the community that prays does not always have to be enormous. Jesus does not say, “Where two or three hundred are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” Or, “two or three thousand,” like my family, “there I am in their midst.” It seems like the Lord speaks of his presence among us in a special way to families. Where two or three, or seven or eight are gathered in his name, the blessings will flow. The first blessing being his presence in our midst. It’s a telling statement by Christ that speaks to the effects of family prayer. Speaking of speaking to effects, our readings this Sunday address the responsibility we all have of speaking. In the sense of making our voices heard. Many times this term, making your voice heard, refers to the world of politics, like that’s the only place our voices matter. Whatever is important to us is connected only to that insane and crazy world, we’re told. Making your voice heard is a good thing when trying to bring about some form of true and holy justice, and not some form of fabricated, false justice. All true justice is grounded in our Creator. This means seeking justice without violence. Seeking justice through violence is a human concept. Since we’re all sinful creatures, true, holy, and lasting justice cannot be had through violent means. Our readings this Sunday reveal true justice by way of making your voice heard. At times, such vocal noise will involve the world of politics, and sometimes not. Family prayer of two or three gathered in the holy name of Jesus while praying a Rosary, the Creed, the Angelus, is obviously not politics. Although we may pray for situations influenced by politics. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him, the Lord says. Speak the words. Build up some holy courage, get into your holy car, and tell him. Speak truthfully and to the point without reading him or her the riot act or a 400-page novel that’s boring. Tell them what they need to hear. Use your vocal cords for good production. Produce a verbal vaccine that will cure the spiritual pandemic. If that doesn’t work, if your personal vaccine does not cure the spiritual illness, invite in a couple others and give him or her more voices to hear. Good, just, trusting, and holy voices. Remember, this is not politics. And if that doesn’t work, Jesus says, then tell the church. To which I will add, be careful who you tell there also, because some priests have big mouths. The readings address the importance and necessity of speaking spiritually. In Ezekiel, God tells him in reference to the Israelites, “You shall warn them for me. You shall speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way. Not someone else Ezekiel, but you.” There was a bunch of wickedness occurring in the house of Israel during Ezekiel’s time of prophecy. Things that children should not hear. God told Ezekiel, “You’re my prophet. You need to tell them so they will turn back to me. They won’t listen to me anymore.” Clearly, the human condition has not changed from Old Testament times to the year 2020. Spiritual speakers are needed. You’ve all been baptized; a priest, prophet, and kings and queens. Who has the courage? Our second reading from Romans centers our spiritually speaking to others in the only spiritual place it belongs: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What does this look like? What Paul writes to the Romans: ‘Do not commit adultery; do not kill, steal, or covet.” By not committing these mortal sins, we love our neighbor as our self. By participating in them, we hate our neighbor as our self. Spiritual speaking can be very easy, such a spraying the Rosary. It can also be very difficult when living and preaching the Gospel, and making good choices along the way. But spiritually speak we must. Otherwise, the political world and political speaking will take over your life. And if that happens, we are not worth listening to. The ears of our listeners get tired really fast. Speak the things of God. Warn, dissuade, love, without violence. You are a prophet by means of your Baptism. Use your prophecy to continue to build up God’s kingdom.