"...go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:24b
The theme of this verse may sound similar to my post from Lent, Day Seven. And perhaps it is. But there is more to this passage than simply saying we're sorry. This time, instead of us forgiving someone else, we're doing the asking!
Jesus says earlier in this passage, "If you remember that your brother has something against you." In other words, if you know you need to ask forgiveness from someone, get it done!
The whole picture of coming to the altar and offering a gift has a couple of implications. In the Old Testament, and before Christ's death and resurrection, the temple altar was the place of "offering a gift". At the Last Supper, when Christ instituted the Eucharist, or communion, the place of offering changed. As Catholics, we believe that we offer the Eucharist together, but I won't go into all that, simply because it's not the purpose of this post.
The truth is, any time we go to God in prayer, whatever form that takes, we need to know that we are forgiven by anyone we have offended.
My offering to God: I will ask for forgiveness from someone I have wronged.
1 comment:
Goodness Joni, your getting these out faster then I can get to them!
They are all so good.
There's a lot to learn about forgineness isn't there?
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