After giving an exhortation on the Beatitudes of the gospel and the sublime tenets of holiness, Lord Jesus taught the people about Christian brotherhood. In order to make it clear that Christian brotherhood should not have even an iota of hatred or bitterness, he said, "When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go, first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt 5:23-24).
 
 

No one can live like an island in the family or in the society. There is the possibility of selfishness and animosity entering mutual relationships. Several lead their daily life nurturing such hostilities. Consequently, the heart, which is the seat of emotions, of likes and dislikes, is often not at peace. This unrest adversely and harmfully affects the physical health of individuals. Many, therefore, become constantly ill. Several people today are suffocated with emotional illness which modern facilities like the X-ray, which perfectly portrays the inner organic structures on the film, and the most up-to-date medicines cannot diagnose. Here is the necessity for Christian reconciliation. Reconciliation is considered today by medical science as an accepted and valuable ‘therapy’ that provides healing.
 
 

There are several references to reconciliation in the Holy Mass which leads those who have gone astray from the heavenly Father through sin back to his loving presence. The Eucharistic sacrifice gives the exhortion to be reconciled.

We should participate in the Holy Mass with a sincere desire for reconciliation, if we have some hostility or resentment towards others, or if we justly feel someone has some hostility or resentment towards us. How many of us think of this matter seriously!!!

Listen to Jesus who said, "When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you..." (Mt 5:23). He certainly must have also silently stated, we can justly conclude, "If you have something against your brother or sister...first be reconciled..."

After following the proclamation of the word which falls in the first part of the Mass, there is the washing of the hands which represents a cleansing of the heart before the priest offers the sacrifice. Prior to our receiving Holy Communion the priest gives us the peace and exhorts the faithful to give peace to one another. What does this indicate? A priest or a believer, who is not reconciled, is not worthy to offer the sacrifice or to receive Holy Communion. If they act otherwise, they commit a sacrilege. We should go to church or receive the Eucharist only after grasping this truth clearly.
 
 

Today in some of our families there is no sincere love between husband and wife or among siblings. Hatred that is nurtured by misunderstanding, envy or petty quarrels, is now like a blazing fire in several hearts. Consequently, there are brothers and sisters who will not look at one another’s face, maintain no contact with each other or are involved in litigation after bouts of verbal attacks, manhandling and even armed fights. There are at least a few brothers and sisters in our families who, for years together, have seen one another only in the court, waste huge sums of money on litigation and thus destroy themselves. Many such people go regularly to church and receive the sacraments. Non-Christians who observe such people are amazed that they claim to be followers of Christ.

We need to take the prayer of the Liturgy seriously. Otherwise, we shall be giving counter witness to Christ. Perhaps this is a phenomenon that takes non-Christians by surprise. We should read and study carefully the conditions necessary for the worthy reception of Holy Communion given by St Paul in 1 Cor 11:27-34 and act accordingly. Those who receive the Eucharist unworthily, invite curse and punishment. This is the truth that St Paul underlines. The apostle also asserts that many are alive physically but are spiritually dead.
 
 

Let us listen to the relevant passages of St Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church community written 2000 years ago: " When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the saints?...If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another"(1 Cor 6:1-6)

It is against this background that the ecclesiastical authorities have, in recent times, strongly recommended the formation of reconciliation committees in parishes and dioceses in order to deal justly with the strife and division among individuals or families.

Why cannot we, who permit the government , municipality or panchayat to conduct reconciliation committees in their own style and according to their policies and settle disputes, take steps to approach a reconciliation committee comprising honest, upright, knowledgeable, educated and mature individuals well-versed in Church law and living according to Christian principles, and come to an agreement amicably?

The Catholic community entering the third millennium, must give special importance to this matter. How many lawsuits of Catholics are being handled by the non-Christian above-mentioned courts? How much money is wasted on settling such disputes by the parties concerned who thus court self-destruction!

It is high time for diocesan pastors, vicars of parishes, eminent lay people and those involved in evangelisation, to wake up and give serious thought to this proposal and come to a decision. If anyone is living in hatred and strife with his brother or sister in such a way that he is unworthy to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist and receive Holy Communion, let us pay attention to the teaching of Jesus and study it deeply.

"When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt 5:23)