We come to Mass each Sunday (I hope), or some of you go even more often, e.g., to daily Mass. The main reason to go to Mass is to receive the Body of Christ, the Eucharist, the bread that will give us life eternal. But we also come to listen to the word of God, to gather at the table as one united family of people, and we come to bring to God our prayers, our needs, to thank Him for His blessings. And today in the Gospel reading Jesus reminds us that we should approach the altar of God with a heart freed from any anger, any hatred and envy. I must admit that there were times when right before Mass someone made me angry by complaining about something, or by accusing me of something. How could he, I thought? And filled with disappointed and even anger, I went to celebrate the Mass. Jesus teaches me and teaches us today that whatever we bring to God, our prayers and gifts don’t make Him happy unless we first forgive our brothers and sisters. We can’t approach the altar of God with anger in our hearts. “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.” Think about that, think about what is in your heart that needs to be reconciled before you come to church and bring your gift into the altar.
