If We Wrong a Brother or Sister, and Do Not Reconcile, We Risk Profaning the Eucharist.

If We Wrong a Brother or Sister, and Do Not Reconcile, We Risk Profaning the Eucharist. February 15, 2020

Pixabay / Public Domain

 

Matthew 5:17-37, the Gospel Reading at Mass on the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

In his Gospel today, the Lord voices a litany of consequences for sin.

  • you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
  • you … will be liable to judgment….
  • answerable to the Sanhedrin….
  • liable to fiery Gehenna.
  • thrown into prison.
  • Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid….

The sins whose consequences today’s Gospel addresses are those against one’s brothers and sisters.

Furthermore, Christ makes the ALTAR the place where we undergo JUDGMENT for sins against a neighbor.

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.

We are to make amends with those we have wronged before we dare to approach the altar, or else we shall face grim consequences.

The Word of the Lord to the Corinthians [1 Cor. 11:27-29] says that to receive the Eucharist unworthily is a profanation that brings deadly judgment upon us.

The Lord Jesus profaned himself, giving up his body for us, and shedding his blood for us, by receiving deadly judgment in place of us, so that our sins may be forgiven.

… my Body … given up for you.
… my Blood … poured out for you and for many FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

As we now dare to approach his altar FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, we are first to make amends for our sins against others.

Otherwise, we profane the atonement for our sins, the atonement that Christ offers us in his Body and Blood.

Turn. Love. Repeat.


Dear Readers of “Turn. Love. Repeat.”

California where I reside had a new law go into effect on January 1, 2020. California Assembly Bill 5 forbids freelance writers, editors and photographers from providing more than 34 content submissions to a media organization per year unless the organization hires the freelancer as a salaried employee. Patheos is a media organization, and I am a freelancer. So now I must limit my posts to 34 per year, or 1 post about every 10 days.

So as not to exceed my legal limit, between my postings here at Patheos I will publish my “extra” pieces at my personal blog, Monk Notes.


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