TDH #10
If you bring your gift to the altar,
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go on your way.
First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23
(NKVJ)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few of us bring gifts to the altar as sacrifice today, but there’s still wisdom to be derived from what Jesus said.
Reject anger the same way you’d reject murder. Hatred not only leads to acts of violence, but harboring anger causes pain within yourself. It’s like that Buddhist quote on how holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Jesus precedes this line with something like, “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Anyone who calls someone a fool will be in danger of hell fire.”
While at first this seems extreme, consider from a less spiritual point of view how we can easily create a Hell within our own minds by holding on to anger.
“Leave your gift at the altar” means to drop whatever you’re doing, even if it’s the act of worshiping God, and reconcile with whomever you’re angry toward to bring yourself peace of mind.
Why? Because our prayers, our desires, our asks of The Universe will not be heard with anger in our hearts, especially with hopes of retaliation.
Imagine your child comes up to you and says, “I hate my sibling.” Then they put on a big old smile and say, “But I love you! Can I have some ice cream now?” Would you reward them for such behavior? Or would you first address the issue at hand? I’d hope it’s the latter.
I’d like to add that if you’re dealing with a person where reconciliation is impossible, or not worth the time, at least find a way to let go of the anger in your own heart. I’ve found that whatever is triggering my own anger usually stems from childhood, with a mother, father, sibling, or early influence in life.
The trigger you’re encountering now is merely pressing the button created years ago. Revisiting the original cause can help to unwire it and lessen your emotional response moving forward. I put what Jesus is trying to convey into practice by stopping whatever I’m doing to ask, “Why am I so angry right now?” Then I’ll dig back to confront whatever memory lurks there.
Because what is more important than healing yourself in the here and now?
Nothing.
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go on your way.
First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23
(NKVJ)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few of us bring gifts to the altar as sacrifice today, but there’s still wisdom to be derived from what Jesus said.
Reject anger the same way you’d reject murder. Hatred not only leads to acts of violence, but harboring anger causes pain within yourself. It’s like that Buddhist quote on how holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Jesus precedes this line with something like, “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Anyone who calls someone a fool will be in danger of hell fire.”
While at first this seems extreme, consider from a less spiritual point of view how we can easily create a Hell within our own minds by holding on to anger.
“Leave your gift at the altar” means to drop whatever you’re doing, even if it’s the act of worshiping God, and reconcile with whomever you’re angry toward to bring yourself peace of mind.
Why? Because our prayers, our desires, our asks of The Universe will not be heard with anger in our hearts, especially with hopes of retaliation.
Imagine your child comes up to you and says, “I hate my sibling.” Then they put on a big old smile and say, “But I love you! Can I have some ice cream now?” Would you reward them for such behavior? Or would you first address the issue at hand? I’d hope it’s the latter.
I’d like to add that if you’re dealing with a person where reconciliation is impossible, or not worth the time, at least find a way to let go of the anger in your own heart. I’ve found that whatever is triggering my own anger usually stems from childhood, with a mother, father, sibling, or early influence in life.
The trigger you’re encountering now is merely pressing the button created years ago. Revisiting the original cause can help to unwire it and lessen your emotional response moving forward. I put what Jesus is trying to convey into practice by stopping whatever I’m doing to ask, “Why am I so angry right now?” Then I’ll dig back to confront whatever memory lurks there.
Because what is more important than healing yourself in the here and now?
Nothing.
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TheDevoutHumorist
Ancient wisdom with a modern application (and an often humorist twist)
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