Reflection
Go first and be reconciled with your brother or sister,
and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:17-37
The restoration of broken relationships is an essential part of seeking a deeper relationship with God. It is difficult to be conscious of being enspirited by Holy Mystery and still be consumed by envy or anger and engage in harmful gossip or criticism. To have the inner serenity we need, we have to remove the layers of misunderstanding and the grievances which separate us from one another. Scripture is startling clear about this. ”Whoever says he loves God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar” (1 John 40:20). Love is the underpinning of relationships and reconciliation requires honesty and understanding. This is the only road to reestablish harmony and reunion.
Prayer
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we bind of others guilt.
Our Father (Translation from the Hebrew)
Action
Reflect on the meaning of the prayer above.
Suggested Reading
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother or sister
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says… ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother or sister
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with them
and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:17-37
Always forgive. Don’t put it off. If there is a person asking you for forgiveness, who are you to ask if he or she may or may not be sincere? You take their word for it, and forgive.
Pope Francis
Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with the roots of violence, particularly those that exist within each of us. We need to embrace ‘inner disarmament, reducing our own emotions of suspicion, hatred and hostility toward our brothers and sisters.
Dalai Lama XIV
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible – the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.
Virginia Satir
All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
Swami Vivekananda
The work of community, love, reconciliation, restoration is the work we cannot leave up to politicians. This is the work we are all called to do.
Shane Claiborne