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JMJ
The Readings for in the 10th Week of Ordinary Time (B2)
Si ergo offers munus tuum ad altare, et ibi recordatus fueris quia frater tuus habet aliquid adversum te : relinque ibi munus tuum ante altare, et vade prius reconciliari fratri tuo : et tunc veniens offeres munus tuum.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus says not “if you hate someone” or “if you have a grudge” but rather “if your brother has anything against you.” If Christians actually believed that, there would be no schism. Whomever forgives the most wins. “You can’t leave me because I’m coming with you”, said the Patriarch to the Pope (or the other way around), as they duked it out in an attempt to say “I’m wrong. You’re right.” Each before the other.
This is our challenge – I am the only sinner I know. All others are Christ to me.
How far do we take this humility? Jesus says to our brothers. Clearly it’s not an act of humility to say to a worshiper of Ba’al, “I’m wrong…” Jesus was not saying to his Jewish brethren that the Israelites should have stayed in Egypt.
But how can we be humble before others, those outside the faith? In fact, that humility is to be a hallmark of our presence.
Imagine if you have met someone, gone on a few dates, and are thinking about “getting serious”. How many dates do you go on before you mention that you go to Mass every day? Can you say you are “in a relationship” with someone who doesn’t know that about you? Can you even be friends?
In today’s world many folks just say, “Let me be silent.” While it feels humble, it is an action of pride. It is not loving: preaching out loud is not what I mean here. You are in relationship with these folks. God has placed them in your life. Keeping silent about your life is denying the relationship. Fear is pride: God doesn’t know what he’s asking of me in the modern world. I will keep silent because I know what is best. Humility is about growing that relationship, about deepening the love you share with those around you. Denying your full presence to your friends, to your coworkers, to the people around you is a breakdown of love. Retreating in silence is building a wall that, in the end, will only hinder their salvation and so, yours.
Your brother holds you silence against you. Leave your gift at the altar and repair your relationship.
So, how to be humble, to live honestly as Christians. Love requires risk. Think of Jesus washing feet. Think of Jesus silent in the Blessed Sacrament. This is our challenge, our walk.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus says not “if you hate someone” or “if you have a grudge” but rather “if your brother has anything against you.” If Christians actually believed that, there would be no schism. Whomever forgives the most wins. “You can’t leave me because I’m coming with you”, said the Patriarch to the Pope (or the other way around), as they duked it out in an attempt to say “I’m wrong. You’re right.” Each before the other.
This is our challenge – I am the only sinner I know. All others are Christ to me.
How far do we take this humility? Jesus says to our brothers. Clearly it’s not an act of humility to say to a worshiper of Ba’al, “I’m wrong…” Jesus was not saying to his Jewish brethren that the Israelites should have stayed in Egypt.
But how can we be humble before others, those outside the faith? In fact, that humility is to be a hallmark of our presence.
Imagine if you have met someone, gone on a few dates, and are thinking about “getting serious”. How many dates do you go on before you mention that you go to Mass every day? Can you say you are “in a relationship” with someone who doesn’t know that about you? Can you even be friends?
In today’s world many folks just say, “Let me be silent.” While it feels humble, it is an action of pride. It is not loving: preaching out loud is not what I mean here. You are in relationship with these folks. God has placed them in your life. Keeping silent about your life is denying the relationship. Fear is pride: God doesn’t know what he’s asking of me in the modern world. I will keep silent because I know what is best. Humility is about growing that relationship, about deepening the love you share with those around you. Denying your full presence to your friends, to your coworkers, to the people around you is a breakdown of love. Retreating in silence is building a wall that, in the end, will only hinder their salvation and so, yours.
Your brother holds you silence against you. Leave your gift at the altar and repair your relationship.
So, how to be humble, to live honestly as Christians. Love requires risk. Think of Jesus washing feet. Think of Jesus silent in the Blessed Sacrament. This is our challenge, our walk.
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Doxos 