Go first and be reconciled with your brother

FRIDAY 6 MARCH (Mt 5,20-26)

The disciple of Jesus must go beyond the imitation of His Master. Since he is the body of Christ, he must be the life of Christ among his brothers. Who is Christ Jesus? It is the Brother who gives the Father life in ransom of his brothers: “But we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” saying: “I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you”; and again: “I will put my trust in him”; and again: “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested” (Heb 2,9-18). Jesus the Lord, before offering himself as a holocaust of salvation to the Father, was reconciled with his brothers, knowing their hatred against him: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” As Christ Jesus is the innocent Brother who gives his life for the brothers who are in death, because of their sins, so also the disciple of Jesus must be the innocent brother, without sin, because he must also, being the body of Christ, give his life for his brothers, so that their sins are forgiven. Being one body with Christ, they must also be one sacrifice, one holocaust and one gift for the redemption of the world. For this reason the Christian is not called to imitate Christ, but to be the true body of Christ who gives himself for his brothers. He gives himself and lets himself be given by the Father. The Father gives him and he makes himself a gift to be given, but always as the body of Christ, in Christ, with Christ and through Christ.

I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. 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. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

If the Christian is the brother, who in Christ, with Christ and through Christ, as his true body, is a gift of the Father for the life of his brothers and is an instrument of reconciliation and salvation, might he ever be angry with his brothers? Might he ever insult them, despise them, condemn them, judge them, offend them, oppose them and resist them? If he did these things, he would no longer be a holocaust, nor a sacrifice and nor an instrument of reconciliation and salvation. He would be a man among men. But he would not be the body of Christ among his brothers. This truth has to be put back on the candlestick today. If the Christian is the body of Christ, he might never be the worshiper of a God who is not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He in Christ can only offer himself to the Father of Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is not the Son of another God. But neither is man the creature of another God. Revelation is either welcomed all in all its parts, or it all dies, because it all becomes a monstrous inconsistency.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that the Christian confesses and lives his truth.