Friday of the First Week of Lent ‘a’

Mt 5:20-26

“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.” You and I go to Mass; we come to the altar of God. Jesus is truly present there in the Holy Eucharist, and you bring Him your prayers, your worries, your concerns, and your gifts. That sounds wonderful and this is our reason for being there -- to bring to God all we have and to receive even more, Christ Himself. However, there is more to it than that. And Jesus tells us today that before we come to God, and to His Holy altar in the Church, we first need to free ourselves from all anger, hatred, from all those bad feelings toward other people. Only then will God accept our gift. Think today about that person you don’t like, maybe even hate, that you don’t talk to. Before receiving Christ in Holy Communion, say a prayer for that person, try to forget, forgive.