23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister* has something against you,24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,* and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 (NRSV)
I wonder where God is, in relation to the state of our hearts and minds and souls, as we come to worship each Sunday … and for weekday services. Does God even get a look in? Or are we too busy meeting and greeting one another…and catching up on the news of the week?
Each service begins with an intentional welcome “The Lord be with you” but do we actually welcome our Lord’s proximity to us in our worship? Do we allow God to speak into our hearts through the lessons and prayers? Do we really allow God’s words, spoken through scripture, to work in us, convicting us of our sins and enabling us to set them right?
More personally, where are your thoughts during worship? Is there anyone you fail to forgive? Is your mind on God, are you brooding over some slight or are you thinking about something else entirely?
In the gospel set for today Jesus makes it very clear that our relationships with others need to be examined as we offer ourselves before God. What is actually in our hearts and minds as we come to worship? At the communal confession, do we really open up before God, exposing our baggage? And, as we receive absolution do we also let go of the “sins” we believe have been committed against us? Or, do we hold onto them, allowing them to fester even as we, ourselves, are absolved?
It would be worth our while to really examine our consciences on this matter. Our worship should impact on us… affirm us, convict us, refresh us and change us. It will, if we let it but this requires absolute honesty with ourselves, and openness to God.
If, at the end of worship, we still carry anger or malice in our hearts, toward our fellow brothers and sisters sharing the sacred space at St Paul’s, then there is something seriously wrong, not only with our relationships within the body of Christ, but also with our relationship with God. In fact, if we aren’t in connection with God, in worship, if we are not prepared to let God in, then what are we doing here?
It’s worth pondering?
Many Blessings
Reverend Shan