Sunday Mass & Matt 5:23-24

[Sir_Knight]

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

… Matthew 5:23-24
​

Suppose you had a disagreement with another family member where you felt that the other individual was incorrect on their position and they felt the same way about your position.

To apologize would be to admit that you were wrong but if you felt that you were correct and the other person held the incorrect position, then admitting that you were wrong would be the wrong thing to do.

It’s wrong to miss Mass on Sunday but ow does one reconcile that with Matt 5:23-24.

 

[teachccd]

First of all, the Church might be somewhat empty if we didn’t go to Mass because we were in disagreement with someone. Two people having a difference of opinion is quite normal or else we would be robots. Now if you feel that you are correct and your decision does not include harboring animosity towards another then Matthew 5:23-24 might not apply. For example, I might feel strongly that my 13 year old daughter should not sleepover at one of my relatives house. Another relative might be greatly offended by this and be at odds with me. But my intention is not to engage in conflict but to stand on my principles.

Look at your circumstance carefully and decide what elements would constitute a lack of love on your part. I can love someone tremendoulsy and still have a difference of opinion. That person may even be very mad at me. Those who crucified Christ were at odds with Him and yet He forgave them. Is your heart where Christ’s heart is in the love that you have despite the situation??

Go to Mass and pray for the both of you. Missing Mass is never the answer…teachccd

 

[puzzleannie]

"
To apologize would be to admit that you were wrong but if you felt that you were correct and the other person held the incorrect position, then admitting that you were wrong would be the wrong thing to do.
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where do you get from the scripture passage cited that “to be reconciled with your brother” means “apologize and admit you were wrong, even if you weren’t” think maybe what we need here is a closer look at what the bible means by “reconciliation”

 

[Sir_Knight]

where do you get from the scripture passage cited that “to be reconciled with your brother” means “apologize and admit you were wrong, even if you weren’t” think maybe what we need here is a closer look at what the bible means by “reconciliation”

Well, if the other person is giving me the cold shoulder until I apologize and I feel that there is no reason to apologize …

PS: The disagreement is whether or not I should have paid for something that was accidently broken in a store.

 

[Sr_Sally]

We should always err on the side of charity and humility. It may hurt your pride to reconcile, but it will be worse for your soul if you refuse to do so for the sake of your pride.

Making up with someone doesn’t always mean saying you were completely wrong and they were completely right over the original disagreement. It is important to say that you are sorry for making them anger, or sorry that the two of you are at odds, but that doesn’t mean you are admiting to wrong-doing.

In the case of paying for something that you break accidentally, it is always good manners to offer especially if the item was someone else’s personal property. In a store the situation may be different. If I drop a heavy jar and break it in a grocery store, I probably wouldn’t offer to pay for it. If a knock over a display of crystal in a gift shop, I would definately apologize for the accident (and probably hope they don’t have one of those “you break it, you buy it” signs in the window!)

 

[Volodymyr_988]

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

… Matthew 5:23-24
​

Suppose you had a disagreement with another family member where you felt that the other individual was incorrect on their position and they felt the same way about your position.

To apologize would be to admit that you were wrong but if you felt that you were correct and the other person held the incorrect position, then admitting that you were wrong would be the wrong thing to do.

It’s wrong to miss Mass on Sunday but ow does one reconcile that with Matt 5:23-24.

I would say that you should not present yourself at the altar, but you still should go to Mass, ie don’t go to Communion. That’s my take on the passage.

 

[StCsDavid]

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

… Matthew 5:23-24
​

Suppose you had a disagreement with another family member where you felt that the other individual was incorrect on their position and they felt the same way about your position.

To apologize would be to admit that you were wrong but if you felt that you were correct and the other person held the incorrect position, then admitting that you were wrong would be the wrong thing to do.

It’s wrong to miss Mass on Sunday but ow does one reconcile that with Matt 5:23-24.

Disagreement does not equal enmity. People agree to disagree all the time and still get along.

You have to remember to take into context who Christ was talking to, and who Matthew was writing for. It’s revealing to look at this passage in context with the entire chapter. Jesus is addressing his disciples. He’s just given them the beatitudes. He just reaffirmed their need to keep the commandments and be even more righteous than the Pharisees. Most of all he is telling his disciples to address their will. Notice he differentiates between the juridical law and the content of the disciples heart. It’s not just murder that’s counter to the law, but even harboring the anger that leads to murder. It’s not just sleeping with a married woman that’s wrong, but nourishing the lust within one’s body. Coming to the alter is correct, but if you have an insincere heart because of a rift with a brother, your sacrifice is disingenuous. Christ is teaching his disciples that to fulfill the law is beyond the exterior actions, but resides most importantly with the interior will.

 

[teachccd]

I would say that you should not present yourself at the altar, but you still should go to Mass, ie don’t go to Communion. That’s my take on the passage.

I would say to speak with a priest about this before you deny yourself the Eucharist. I have a similar situation with my next door neighbor. I have tried to reconcile but the situation renders itself impossible. He refuses and says that it is all me. I spoke with several priests and I receive the Eucharist and pray for him and myself. No one can counsel you as to whether or not you should receive the Eucharist except for a priest if indeed you feel that you are in the state of mortal sin. I don’t believe that you are but my opinion is as much nothing as the next…God Bless…teachccd

 

[Sir_Knight]

In the case of paying for something that you break accidentally, it is always good manners to offer especially if the item was someone else’s personal property. In a store the situation may be different. If I drop a heavy jar and break it in a grocery store, I probably wouldn’t offer to pay for it. If a knock over a display of crystal in a gift shop, I would definately apologize for the accident (and probably hope they don’t have one of those “you break it, you buy it” signs in the window!)

Given what you just said, that may change the entire equation.

 

[Newbie2]

Well, if the other person is giving me the cold shoulder until I apologize and I feel that there is no reason to apologize …

PS: The disagreement is whether or not I should have paid for something that was accidently broken in a store.

Apologize to the other person or the storekeeper? Apologize for having an argument, or for you being on the “wrong” side of the argument?

1. Let’s look at what Jesus means by reconciled. Does he mean do whatever it takes to make nice with your brother? Not necessarily.

There are some situations where the other party refuses to meet you halfway, agree to disagree, whatever. You cannot be responsible for their stance if you’ve tried to make nice.

In this case, if you’ve reached an impasse, something like, “Look, I’m sorry that we disagree, no hard feelings, but can we agree to disagree on this?” would seem to fulfill what Jesus is looking for.

As far as offering to pay for something you’ve broken in a store, that would be a very gracious thing to do. If it’s a jar of jelly in a grocery store, they’ll most likely tell you to forget about it. If it’s a $200 crystal vase in a china shop…it would be nice to offer to pay for the wholesale price; they aren’t out the retail value. They may also have insurance to cover such things, at least they should.