Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:20-26

               

20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.

21 “You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’

22 But now I tell you: if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. 

23 So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

25 “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. 

26 There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.

Reflection:

“So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.”

The verse simply says that when we are offering to God, we are to make sure that we have peace of mind. Peace of mind and heart. Make sure that there is no anger. Make sure that we have already forgiven that someone who have sinned against us. Be sure that our conscience is clean and have repented.

Someone who has anger in her heart does not have a peaceful mind and a clean conscience.  

He thinks of something he can do for revenge. 

Offering something to God usually is a sign of thanksgiving. Giving thanks for the blessings coming from God. If someone is giving thanks to God, it must be full of sincerity. That is why we need to have a clean conscience while offering to God.