Word to the Wise
Thursday, June 10, 2021 - Thursday in the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Cor 3:15—4:1, 3-6 and Matt 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]
Reconciliation is not the same as forgiveness. Jesus challenges us to do both, but they are not the same thing. We may well forgive someone for an offense, but still remain separated from them. Reconciliation aims at restoring at least a relationship that is positive even if not as intimate as before. It also aims at justice because there may be a need to restore something that was lost as a result of the offense. Stealing may be forgiven, but the one who steals must make amends. There is some of this to be found in any move for "reparations" for a past offense, especially if it was on a regional or national level such as slavery, internment of Japanese citizens in WWII, violation of Native American rights (cr. Bosque Redondo encampment).
Jesus' challenge of reconciliation is tied to worship! Can we come to worship with "blood" on our hands? Jesus and the prophets of old consistently spoke to this. The passage from the Sermon on the Mount begins with an admonition to do better than making a pious show of religion as did the scribes and Pharisees.
Reconciliation, however, implies more than one person. The constant question arises, "What if HE/SHE/THEY don't want to be reconciled?" We are not to try to answer that question in advance. The first step is forgiveness and then the process of restoring trust and making amends begins. It is one of the toughest challenges in the teachings of Jesus. Our fidelity to those teachings must include our efforts at reconciliation. AMEN