Catholic Mom Daily Gospel Reflections Logo with gold outline

Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Today's readings all focus on our own sinfulness and the desire we should have to be reconciled to God. That is, after all, what Lent is for: to repent and return to God with all our hearts. But to really be reconciled to God, we also have to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters—our fellow sinners. Each time we pray the Our Father, we say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." If we truly think about those words when we pray them, we'll realize that our forgiveness of others is tied to God's forgiveness of us.

So if we are there at Mass, bringing ourselves to the altar for Communion, we should be doing an examination of conscience. If we harbor anger at our brothers and sisters, we can't be in proper communion with God. If it's something that's really gnawing at you, now is the time to let it go and forgive, even if that person isn't even aware of you being angry at him. Forgive them, and approach God with a fresh, clean heart.

Ponder:

Am I angry at someone over a past transgression? Do I keep that feeling instead of seeking to forgive? How is this keeping me from being fully united with God?

Pray:

Lord, I don't want to live with anger any more. Help me to forgive the people that I'm annoyed with, and help me forgive them unreservedly. Teach me to be more readily forgiving so I can become more like You.

Copyright 2015 Christine Johnson