Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
We all know that anger can kill relationships and seriously wound people, including the person holding the anger. It is a human emotion that can be very destructive. In today’s gospel passage (Matthew 5: 20-26), we read that Jesus is instructing his disciples about anger. They know the command/law “you shall not kill” and now Jesus adds to that, “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment….” He goes deeper into the heart where anger lies. Jesus wants more from his disciples than simply obeying laws and commands. He is challenging us to transform our hearts, our very lives.
It is not enough for us to follow the rules and rituals and attend mass each week being “good Catholics.” Verse 23-24 says, “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.” Jesus is challenging us to make amends in our relationships where anger resides. Notice that verse 23 says that if “there you recall that your brother has anything against you,” not “if you have anything against your brother,” then go and be reconciled. In other words, if someone is angry with me, has something against me, I still have the responsibility to reconcile that relationship. It is not enough for me to wait for the other person to let go of their anger. Maybe they’re angry because I have hurt them or done them wrong in some way. Jesus is challenging us to seek reconciliation. “I’m sorry, truly I am,” are not easy words to say. Neither is “I forgive you” or “ I’m sorry too,” but these are the healing words of reconciliation that we are called to as followers of Jesus.
Jesus sets this as a priority over offering gifts to God at the altar. And besides, what are the most precious gifts we can bring? Our humble hearts, our entire lives, our desire to be reconciled to each other and to God.
Anger often stems from hurt. We want to protect ourselves and retaliate when we, or someone we love, have been hurt. Later in this fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus talks about loving our enemies, “…love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you…for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes the rain to fall on the just and unjust.” (Matthew 5: 44,45)
f our God is merciful and gracious, blessing the good and the bad with the gifts of sun and rain, then aren’t we to treat each other in the same way? For as today’s gospel acclamation reminds us, Jesus calls us to “love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13: 34)
Thankfully we have a forgiving and merciful God. Let us pray for the grace to be the same.
-Eileen Miller