Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

fragments from "Devout Instructions" by Fr Goffine

With the priest in the Introit of the Mass, let us implore God's assistance, and say: "Hear. O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to Thee; be Thou my helper, forsake me not, do not despise me, O God, my Saviour. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" (Ps. xxxvi. 7, 9,1.) Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer
O God, Who hast prepared invisible goods for them that love Thee, infuse into our hearts the affection of Thy love, that loving Thee in all things and above all, we may obtain Thy promises which surpass every desire. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE 1. Peter iii. 8-15.

And in fine, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble: Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace and pursue it: Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things. And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good? But if also you suffer any thing for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled. But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you. For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

How may and ought we to sanctify the Lord Jesus in our hearts?
By faithfully imitating Him; for thereby we become His true and faithful disciples, honour Him, sanctify ourselves and edify others, who by our good example are led to admire Christianity, and Christ its founder, and to become his followers.

GOSPEL Matt. v. 20-24.
At thet time Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you, unless your justice aboun more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

In what did the justice of Pharisees consists?
They were very pious in outward appearance, and avoided those vices which caused temporal disgrace and injury; but, on the other hand, they were full of malice in their heart, and this Christ often reproached them with, calling them hypocrites.

How are we to understand what Christ says about anger and using abusive words?
The meaning of His words is, "You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of men; but I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause, shall be in danger of the judgment of God. You have heard that whosoever calls his brother fool, shall be brought before the council and punished; but I say to you, that God punishes with hell fire every grievious offence against your neighbour, as also the hatred and enmity of your heart towards Him."

Why must one first be reconciled to his brother before he offers his gift at the altar, or undertakes any good work?
Because no offering, or other good work, can be pleasing to God so long as we are living in enmity, hatred, and strife with our neighbour, and thereby going directly against His will and example.

Remedies for Anger
The first and best means to overcome anger is humility; to become thus humble, gentle, and patient, one must often consider the example of Christ, Who endured so many contradictions, persecutiions, and insults, without reviling again when reviled Himself, and without threatening vengeance to any one for all He suffered. An excellent preventive to anger is, to think over in the morning what causes will be likely to draw us into anger at any time during the day, and to guard ourselves against them beforehand, by a firm resolution to bear everything patiently for the love of God; and then, when anything vexatious occurs and excites our anger, to say and do nothing so long as the anger lasts.

How shall we be reconciled with our enemies?
Not only with the lips but from the heart, and with sincerity and promptness. "Is he absent whom you have wronged," says St. Augustine, "so that you cannot easily reach him? Humble yourself then before God, and ask His pardon before you offer your gift, with a firm resolution to be reconciled with your enemy as soon as possible."