Go First and Be Reconciled
June 14, 2012
Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
In a
trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, who
girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:44-46
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
Piety
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
Study
What happens after the confrontation?
Today's first reading occurs immediately after the
confrontation over allegiance to the Lord or allegiance to prophets of Baal. Baal was the god of the rain and the
storm. As such, Baal was part of an
alternate belief system which worshiped many gods -- each for different
elements in life similar to the way the Greeks and Romans had different
gods. The Jewish faith demanded
allegiance to only one God.
However, the notes to the NAB point out that the people of
Israel had apparently become comfortable worshiping both Baal and the Lord,
perhaps assigning mutually exclusive spheres of influence to each. By claiming --
and demonstrating -- authority over the rain and the natural world, the Lord
was successfully challenging Baal’s power and domain. Thus, the coming of the storm was physical
proof that the Lord was God of all after this confrontation.
The Gospel deals with confrontation on a more personal
level. Jesus changes not only the rules
of confrontation but also the outcome.
Rather than prevailing and slaughtering the opponent as happened in 1
Kings, Jesus says we must bury that hatchet and reconcile with each other
before presenting ourselves to the Lord.
Action
What happens after your confrontations in life? Do you want to take no prisoners like the Old
Testament ways of Elijah? Or will you go
first and be reconciled as Jesus turns a new leaf in the New Testament?
1 comment:
im a Christian as well as practicing meditation (jus pertaining to stress relief not with regard to spiritual purposes)
but i find that certain songs are extremely calming and relaxing once i am
stressed and perhaps they are Christian tracks in praise to Goodness.
it will be soft gradual music along with soothing.
. is this okay to add in this in practical meditation and consentrate on the lyrics
rather then something just like my breath or perhaps a word or even phrase that we
repeat?
Also visit my website ; binaural cds
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