Today's Gospel passage, Matthew 5:20-26 is from Christ's Sermon on the Mount as The Lord begin the public ministry.
For the Jewish teachers, scribes and Pharisees, virtue is measured by the external observances of the law of Moses.
But external observance of the law is not enough. Real virtue is in the heart. Christ taught that the law forbids taking the life of another. But for him, even hatred, anger, violence in the heart must be avoided. For The Lord, we cannot have one set of relationship with God, and another set with people.
It would be no use to pray and make offering to God if one does harm to another. I must leave my gift at the altar, and go and reconcile with my brother and sister. Only then can I offer my gift.
I cannot say that I love God, if at the same time I have hatred and bitterness in my heart.
1john 4:20 says: if someone says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar."
The Holy Eucharist, allows the opportunity to keep consistent our love, both vertical and horizontal love. Love of God and love of neighbor. Although sometimes, the practice of making peace with one another before Holy Communion can be done superficially, and sometimes seemed forced, but we try to be faithful to the Gospel of Christ and make peace before returning to the altar. It is so that this event does foreshadow the eternal banquet in heaven.
The invitation is always at Mass to make peace with one another. But it requires our consciousness and awareness of this important gesture. The gesture of a handshake, hug or kiss, is to express a spirit of unity, reconciliation, mercy and forgiveness. It is because we are the one body of Christ who prepares to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Amen.
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