We are told once again today and the reading that we must be better than others. Not in the way we usually use that expression, but in our behavior.
It calls to mind the words of the confiteor, "in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do."
According to Jesus merely allowing anger to take root in us is a sin.
And my favorite verse is 5:23.
"... if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,…"
Notice that this isn't about you forgiving someone else. It's about you needing to be the one to go and ask forgiveness, which of course means acknowledging that you are the one who offended.
It doesn't matter if you meant to offend or not. It doesn't matter if in your judgement the person should be offended. The fact is, they are. And if we are Christians we need to be the ones to step up and apologize, plain and simple. If the other person refuses to be reconciled we cannot control that, but we can be the one to make the first move.
On this second Friday of Lent is there someone you need to apologize to.
