Tag: matthew5:23-24

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2019, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MERCY, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 March – Go and be reconciled with your brother. 

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 March – Friday of the First week of Lent, Year C, Gospel:  Matthew 5:20–26 and The Memorial of St Clement Mary Hofbauer C.Ss.R.(1751-1820)

“If you are bringing your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled with your brother.   Then come and offer your gift.”…Matthew 5:23–24

REFLECTION – “Christ gave His life for you and do you hold a grudge against your fellow servant?   How then can you approach the table of peace?   Your Master did not refuse to undergo every kind of suffering for you and will you not even forgo your anger?… He has offered me an outrageous insult, you say.   He has wronged me times without number, he has endangered my life.   Well, what is that?   He has not yet crucified you as the Jewish elders crucified the Lord.

If you refuse to forgive your neighbour’s offence your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins either (Mt 6:15).   What does your conscience say when you repeat the words: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…,” and the rest?   Christ went so far as to offer His blood for the salvation of those who shed it.   What could you do that would equal that?   If you refuse to forgive your enemy you harm not him but yourself… You earn for yourself eternal punishment on the Day of Judgement.

Listen to the Lord’s words:  “If you are bringing your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled with your brother. Then come and offer your gift.”   What do you mean?   Am I really to leave my gift, my offering there?   Yes, He says, because this sacrifice is offered in order that you may live in peace with your brother… For the Son of Man has come into the world to reconcile humanity with its Father.   As Paul says: “Now God has reconciled everything to himself” (Col 1:20) “putting enmity to death through the cross” (Eph 2:16)…. St John Chrysostom (347-407)matthew 5 23-24 - leave your gift at the altar - christ went so far - st john chrysostom 15 march 2019.jpg

PRAYER – All-merciful Father, help me to be ever open to Your love and mercy, running to You in all my needs and in all my fears.   Allow me too, to run to the confessional when I have sinned, to ask for and receive forgiveness and love.   Through Your mercy and forgiveness, teach me too to forgive and open my heart to kindness, reconciliation and care for my brother.   Grant that the prayers of St Clement Mary Hofbauer, may assist us all in living holy lives according to Your Commandments and the laws of the Church. Amenst-clement-mary-hofbauer-pray-for-us-15-march-2018-no-2.jpg

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 June – Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year B – Today’s Gospel Matthew 5:20-26.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 14 June – Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year B – Today’s Gospel Matthew 5:20-26.

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

REFLECTION – “The Church does not exist for us to remain divided when we come to it but rather so that our divisions might be nullified.   That is what the assembly means. Thus if we have come for the Eucharist, let us not do anything in contradiction to the Eucharist, let us not hurt our brother.   You have come to give thanks for the kindnesses you have received, therefore, do not separate yourself from your neighbour.
Christ offered his body to everyone without distinction when he said:  “Take and eat, all of you.”   Why do you not admit everyone to your own table? … You are remembering Christ and you disdain someone who is poor? … You are taking part in this divine meal; you should be the most compassionate of all people.   You have drunk the Lord’s blood and you do not acknowledge your brother?   But even if you have ignored him until now, at this table you must acknowledge him.   We must all be in the Church as in one common house, we form only one body.   We have only one baptism, one single table, one single source, as well as one single Father.”…St John Chrysostom (345-407), Father & Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the 1st Letter to the Corinthians, no 27 -cf Eph 4:5; 1 Cor 10:17 )therefore if you bring your gift to the altar mt 5 23-24-we must all be in the church - st john chrysostom - 14 june 2018

PRAYER – Lord God, true light and creator of light, grant that faithfully following the instructions of Your Son and pondering all that is holy, we may ever live in the splendour of Your presence.   By the gifts of the Holy Spirit, may we always be light to our neighbour.   Mary, Mother of Love and our loving mother, by your prayers, may we grow in charity and love.  We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord amen.loving mother pray for us - 14 june 2018