Jesus said in today’s gospel:
“But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.”
I watched a movie about near death experiences this week and have also researched this topic extensively for several years. What touched me the most is the “Life Review” that many people report experiencing in their near death experience. I think it is very applicable to today’s gospel.
Those who have experienced a Life Review in their near death experience said that you feel what the other person felt in your interactions with them. Every negative thing you said or did to others is turned around – so that you experience the feelings of hurt and pain that you caused the other person to suffer. Evidently, it is quite a painful experience. The ones who had this experience said they are very careful about how they treat other people now, because they do not want to go through it again.
I can not attest to the authenticity of near death experiences or the Life Review many claim to have experienced, but I don’t think they conflict with our Catholic teachings either. It sounds a little bit like purgatory.
In today’s gospel, Jesus said we will be held accountable for every harsh word we utter against another person. He encourages us to make things right with them while we can. If we don’t – it could be a much more painful experience later.
In fact, the Catholic belief in purgatory is based on this verse in today’s gospel:
“… or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.”
Today’s gospel very much applies to our Lenten journey, or struggles to become a better Christian. I’m as guilty as anyone for losing my temper or saying something hurtful occasionally, even though I do genuinely try to reign in these negative feelings as much as possible.
Today’s gospel is a challenge to realize the effect that our negative words and actions has on the other person that we vent them on. We need to try to put ourselves in their shoes. We should try to anticipate how they might react to our words first, before we speak to the other person.
And, if we think we may have hurt someone’s feelings, it is very important to ask their forgiveness sooner, rather than later. If we delay in trying to set things right again, it could be too late. We may not have all the time in the world to do so.
Resisting the impulse to say something negative is hard, but it is a good place to start to grow in holiness this Lenten season.
