Today's gospel reading -- 6/14

[cheeto1]

Mt 5:20-26

During this reading it said if you bring your sacrifice to the altar,
and there remember your brother has something against you,
leave your sacrifice at the altar and go. Be reconciled with your
brother and then come back and offer your sacrifice.

Now what if you were at the sacrifice of mass and remembered
your brother had something against you. Should you get up and
leave mass? And supposing your brother refuses to reconcile,
should you never go to mass till he does? Or is this just something that doesn’t apply to us because we don’t use burnt
offerings anymore?

 

[jburgherr]

I think this passage has both literal and figurative meanings.

Jesus was speaking to the people of Jerusalem for whom this had a very literal meaning. For us now, it is a different way that Jesus teaches: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

I doubt anyone will tell you: “Don’t go to mass if you are not reconciled with your brother.”

My thoughts.

 

[lak611]

The Haydock Commentary says this:

Ver. 24. Leave thy offering. This is not to be understood, as if a man were always bound to go to the person offended; but it is to signify, that a man is bound in his heart and mind to be reconciled, to forgive every one, and seek peace with all men. (Witham) — Beware of coming to the holy table, or to any sacrament, without charity. Be first reconciled to your brother, and much more to the Catholic Church, which is the whole brotherhood of Christian men. (Hebrews xiii. 1.) (Bristow)

haydock1859.tripod.com/id19.html