Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
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. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the
judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown
into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid
the last penny.”
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Reflection:
What is the antidote to sin? What can truly defeat hatred and evil in our lives? It is humility, forgiveness, and love.
When we fall into sin—especially when we hurt those closest to us, like our spouse—the way to healing begins with humility. If you have sinned against your spouse, the first step is to humble yourself before him or her. Say from the heart, “I’m sorry for hurting you,” or “I’m sorry for betraying your trust.” These words, though simple, carry the power to begin restoration.
If love remains in the heart of the one you have wounded, forgiveness will likely follow. But the door to that forgiveness is unlocked by your humility—your sincere acknowledgment of your fault. Without humility, healing cannot begin.
Yet, let’s be honest: saying "I’m
sorry" is never easy. It’s one of the hardest things to say. Pride stands
in the way. Many choose silence instead of apology. But when humility dwells in
our hearts, we will not hesitate to ask for forgiveness—because we know it is
the path to healing and reconciliation.
There’s a painful paradox at play: we are
quick to sin, but slow to apologize. Some of us may not even be willing to
apologize at all. And this unwillingness—this lack of humility—can break
marriages, damage friendships, and divide families.
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:23–25), Jesus
gently reminds us of the importance of humility and the courage to admit our
faults. He calls us to reconcile with one another before offering our gifts to
God. Why? Because when we humble ourselves and confess our sins, we open our
hearts to grace. We save ourselves from deeper wounds and greater troubles.
But when we choose pride over peace, when
we let arrogance rule our hearts, conflict and unrest will never leave us.
Are you willing to humbly apologize to
someone you’ve hurt? Yes, reaching out takes courage. Apologizing takes
strength. But it is also a redemptive act—one that sets your soul free from the
chains of pride, anger, and the influence of the devil.
Let humility lead you. Let love guide you. And let forgiveness restore what sin has broken. — Marino J. Dasmarinas
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