Go First and Be Reconciled

June 14, 2007

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

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. Matthew 5:23-24

We do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Piety

Lord Jesus! How often I have gone astray from the right way or, even if I remained on the right path, nevertheless stumbled along the right way or gone creeping forward so slowly on the right way. Infinite patience! Infinite suffering of patience! How many times have I been impatient wishing to forsake you, wishing to give up, to take the terribly easy way out, the way of despair? However, you did not lose patience with me. I can only claim that I have increased your sufferings, added new ones to those you once suffered in order to save me. Help me to live up to the challenges your presented to us. Amen.

(Based upon a passage from Soren Kierkegaard’s book: Provocations: The Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard, page 237-238)

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/061407.shtml

If I had to make a list of the ten scripture passages that are most challenging, Matthew 5:23 would have to rank right up there with the hardest messages Jesus has for us.

If we think that our responsibilities as Christians can be fulfilled easily, then just think about how many times you would have to turn away from the altar and patch up your relationship with someone before returning to approach Jesus with a clear conscience.

• Had a fight with your brother or sister?
• Fired someone at work?
• Involved in a lawsuit or mediation?
• Cheated someone out of something that belonged to them?
• Failed to give your “widow’s mite” enough to help the poor?
• Decided to pick up your remote control instead of your cross?
• Wasted time that could have been devoted to something more meaningful?

Jesus knows when we try to cut corners as Christians. He knows the lure of temptation. He was tempted by earthly power and riches. He was challenged to make water come from a rock. He asked his Father to let the cup pass by Him. Yet, His Father knew best what we needed and sent Jesus to the slaughter of the cross in order to save us.

God sent his son to the execution chamber just as Abraham prepared to kill his son. In the face of the taunting from the Jews, the betting of the Romans, the betrayal of Judas, the triple denials of Peter, and the acquiescence of Pilate and Herod to the maddening crowds, Jesus never cut corners. He paid the last penny.

God will forgive us…as we forgive others.

Provocative? Challenging? Stimulating? Confrontational? Demanding? Difficult? All of the above. He never said it would be easy. He only promised that it would be worth it.

Action

Last night I watched a University of Virginia broadcast of a lecture presented there in March by Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, a non-profit organization working to help the poor in Haiti, Africa, and other places where “hope” is a four letter word.

Dr. Farmer’s speeches, whether you see him in person, see him via television, or read his books, he also is nothing short of provocative. For example, he said, “Since I do not believe that there should be different recommendations for people living in the Bronx and people living in Manhattan, I am uncomfortable making different recommendations for my patients in Boston and in Haiti.”

He also is quoted as saying, “So I can't show you how, exactly, health care is a basic human right. But what I can argue is that no one should have to die of a disease that is treatable.”

You can read and hear more about what Dr. Farmer said at U.Va. at this web site:

http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=1670

Dr. Farmer puts his career and reputation on the line opening up new horizons for providing health care to people who are among the poorest in the world. How can you support people’s right to basic health care, not just in Haiti or Africa, but right here in Virginia?

One million Virginians lack adequate health care insurance. They live in constant fear that an accident or debilitating illness will strike, and send them reeling toward personal and financial devastation. Increasingly, these reluctant high-wire artists are people we know. They are the waiters at our favorite restaurants, the clerk at the corner dry cleaner’s, and the spouses and children of local law-enforcement officers who cannot afford family coverage. In 2004, 82% of Virginia’s uninsured came from working families.

Refer to the Virginia Health Care Foundation for more information about how to help in our backyard. Refer to Partners in Health for more information about helping around the world.