Friday of the
First Week of Lent
(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)
If we were to ask St. Thomas Aquinas which is more
important to offer a gift at the altar or to reconcile with someone whom we
have offended, he would probably make a distinction. (He always makes distinctions) He would say something like in order of priority,
we should reconcile with the offended person first. But, he would add, in order of importance, it
is greater to give God His due.
Jesus would no doubt agree. What may surprise some, however, is that he does
not say that an offering to God makes up for the offense against another human
being. But Jesus knows that humans are
images of God. As such, all of them –
young and old, black and white – deserve not just a cool respect but our sincere
love. For Jesus it would be hypocrisy to
worship God while ignoring the offenses we have committed against a neighbor.
These seven weeks of Lent are set aside to reconcile
ourselves with both God and neighbor. We
need to make a thorough examination of conscience and to confess our sins. We also need to recognize how we have
offended others and to seek their forgiveness.
