One of the things I enjoy doing, particularly but not exclusively, with Scripture is to look at frequently referenced quotes in broader context. So very often we learn much more about what the author or speaker meant and sometimes we even learn that what they meant was not how it is commonly understood. As a part of my project to read through the Bible and the Catechism, and drag y’all along with me, I’d like to make this a regular feature of this blog. With that intro, let’s begin with this nugget:
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Mt 5:23
Frequently I hear this talked about as referring to either the Confiteor or the Sign of Peace at Mass. Now, if the actual Confiteor is said (aka Option A), I suppose we can say this fits – most often in my experience in the modern Church however we skip the Confiteor and use Option C which makes no reference to anything our brother may have against us, but only God. So okay, a half a point there. How about the Sign of Peace? If it were truly, truly done as the offering of Peace to our neighbors, maybe. But … what if the brother who has something against you isn’t there? Christ tells us to “leave your gift there before the altar and go” yet I don’t see that fitting with the Sign of Peace. So again, I’ll grant a half a point. (Yes, it’s my blog so I’m the only point arbiter available.)
So since these frequent explanations aren’t cutting it, let’s back up a step and look at the broader context of the statement. This is in Jesus’ series of “You have heard … But I say” sayings where he reinterprets the Law for the Jews and shows that it is His Law and that He is Master of the Law. Expanding a little we see:
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.” (Mt 5:21-26)
Among the “strong words” sayings of Jesus this is surprising because it is not directed towards the Pharisees or Sadducees – it is directed to someone who does not control his or her anger and lashes out against a brother. We should immediately think of Psalm 64:3 where the psalmist raises a complaint against those “who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows“. The tongue is indeed a weapon, but in this case it is not just a weapon hacking at a stuffed target. No, the target of unrestrained anger, particularly when vocalized, is a person made in the image and likeness of God. We are, in effect, cutting down the work of God.
Anger, like pride, is a “gateway” sin. When allowed to hold sway it opens us up for all sorts of sins, stain builds upon stain and before too long we don’t recognize ourselves. Christ did not choose his words carelessly – let us reflect on these hard words the next time we feel the urge to let fly unrestrained words of anger. Let us also take the time to reflect and look for times when we may have done this in the past and hurled bitter arrows at another child of God and then go and do something about it. That way, when we “offer [our] gift at the altar” we will not have to “leave it … and go”. This is a part of the “other six days of being a Christian” that is supposed to reflect our separation from the world. Let’s live it.
