“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..."
Anniversary of Our Parish Dedication Today my parish celebrates the 28 year anniversary of the dedication of our church building. This morning as I looked around our aging facility, I thought of the hundreds of thousands of people who've worshiped in our beautiful church over nearly 30 years. We've held hundreds of masses, funerals, weddings, first communions, and baptisms. Our church is definitely a gift to the surrounding Catholic community.
Not Getting Along In parish life, we don't always get along with everybody we meet. We may not necessarily like the person in the pew next to us. Maybe he or she has said something offensive. Maybe the person comes across as aloof or judgmental. Whatever the case, it's natural for us to not always feel comfortable around someone. Sometimes that uncomfortable feeling turns into anger or contempt. Our Lord says that we must reconcile with our neighbor before we present a gift on the altar. In other words, our hearts should be free from mortal sin before we receive communion. The Eucharist is a gift from God. If we are at odds with another person, we are at odds with God.
A Gift of Reconciliation I know whenever I'm feeling anger, resentment or frustration toward someone I head off to confession as soon as possible. I speak to the priest about what's going inside my mind and my heart. The penance I'm given often resolves around not only apologizing to the person but praying for their own soul! Jesus provides us with the gift of reconciliation, but as Christians we can give the gift of reconciliation to others, too. We can forgive their offenses. We can accept their limitations. We can make an effort to treat them with respect.
Reconciliation is such a positive action! It's a way to release burdens and struggles. I'ts a way to release tension and fear. Reconciliation opens our hearts to Christ and to everyone around us. It's easier to love one another when we are reconciled with one another.
Let's make amends with people and pray for them! It will make us feel a whole lot better.
-J.
Not Getting Along In parish life, we don't always get along with everybody we meet. We may not necessarily like the person in the pew next to us. Maybe he or she has said something offensive. Maybe the person comes across as aloof or judgmental. Whatever the case, it's natural for us to not always feel comfortable around someone. Sometimes that uncomfortable feeling turns into anger or contempt. Our Lord says that we must reconcile with our neighbor before we present a gift on the altar. In other words, our hearts should be free from mortal sin before we receive communion. The Eucharist is a gift from God. If we are at odds with another person, we are at odds with God.
A Gift of Reconciliation I know whenever I'm feeling anger, resentment or frustration toward someone I head off to confession as soon as possible. I speak to the priest about what's going inside my mind and my heart. The penance I'm given often resolves around not only apologizing to the person but praying for their own soul! Jesus provides us with the gift of reconciliation, but as Christians we can give the gift of reconciliation to others, too. We can forgive their offenses. We can accept their limitations. We can make an effort to treat them with respect.
Reconciliation is such a positive action! It's a way to release burdens and struggles. I'ts a way to release tension and fear. Reconciliation opens our hearts to Christ and to everyone around us. It's easier to love one another when we are reconciled with one another.
Let's make amends with people and pray for them! It will make us feel a whole lot better.
-J.
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