LEAVE YOUR GIFT THERE AT THE ALTAR

1Kings 18.41-46 ; Ps 001.: Mt 5,20-26
14 JUNE
It is enough to open the Gospel to realize that we are not Christians. The true disciple of Jesus is measured by the relationship he lives with his brothers. Just listen to one word and it immediately appears if we are children of the world and its rules or if we are true children of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit and walk according to his divine Law, the same Law that Jesus also lived as a Crucifix, while his blood dripped from his wounds. One word is enough and the world will know that we belong to it. This was Paul’s regret. He saw the disciples of Jesus who walked according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit. Those who follow the flesh belong to the flesh.

For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another (Gal 5,13-26).

Who is the true Christian according to Christ Jesus in the truth and in the light of the Holy Spirit? It is the one who in Christ, with Christ, through Christ, as his true body, offers himself to the Father as a sacrifice of redemption, atonement and salvation for the sins of the world. Not only and not so much for the sins committed against God and against others, but above all for the sins committed against his person. The brother sins against the Christian and the Christian offers himself to God, in Christ, in the light and truth of the Holy Spirit, for the salvation and redemption of those who have been workers of iniquity against him. Here is why Jesus asks that we leave the offering at the altar and go to be reconciled with the brother, offering him forgiveness. The Christian must always be in all similar to Christ the Lord, who is the gift of God offered to the world as his true will for reconciliation and peace.

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 one that offers, rather that has already offered his life to the Father, in Christ, for the redemption of every man, life cannot be offered except in great patience, meekness, compassion, great piety, mercy and willingness to always give forgiveness and to offer reconciliation. The Christian that offers himself must not know the evil even of a foolish or less holy word. Without the Holy Spirit that wraps the disciple of Jesus with the power of his gifts, this will not be possible.

Mirror of every virtue, Angels and Saints ensure that the Christian is true light in the Lord.