Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061412.cfm

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.

The Gospel of Saint Matthew, perhaps more than the other gospels, insists upon harmony in the community. Scripture scholars tell us it is the most ecclesial of the four. It reflects long experience of troubles within the church and reflection on the work and methods of grace. Some people romanticize the early church, thinking that those were the good old days, when the church lived a utopian, ideal existence. They’ve not read Saint Matthew.

The Sermon on the Mount, appearing early in the First Gospel, addresses individual spirituality: “How am I as a Christian to live?” (Later sermons will address communal problems and the challenges of evangelization.) Key among the personal issues are forgiveness and reconciliation.

The passage above makes reconciliation sound both simple and urgent. “If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you” don’t put it off! Be reconciled immediately! There is absolutely nothing more important than your peacemaking; not even the celebration of the Holy Mass takes precedence over reconciliation.

But what if reconciliation takes several hours, or days, or weeks?

As long as it takes! Whatever it takes!

What if he refuses to be reconciled?

What if, what if, what if! Are you waiting for God to answer all your what ifs before you take the first step?  Times a’wasting; get on it!

Some people are willing to live with resentments, guilt and regret for years. Jesus is not. They are willing to see the corrosive effects of sin eat away at their souls and their loved ones until their dying day. And they expect bliss in eternity!? Jesus did not die to give us that kind of freedom. We heard him say on the Seventh Wednesday of Easter:

I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.

Our complete joy “in the world” requires humility and courage, apologies and atonement. Let’s roll….