Our Venerable Father Nicetas, Bishop of Chalcedon.
Romans 1:28-2:9; Matthew 5:27-32.
Read Romans 1:28-2:9
In this week of Pentecost, yesterday’s Gospel reading is very “telling.” Draw your attention to Matthew Chapter five (5:21,22, 23,24)“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘you shall not murder’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable of judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement… So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you member that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come off to your gift.”
St. John Chrysostom says, “‘Let my service,’ He says, ‘be interrupted, that your love may continue, since this also is a sacrifice, you’re being reconciled to your brother” …His wish is to point out that He highly values charity, and considers it to be the greatest sacrifice: and that without it, He does not receive even that other; next, He is imposing such a necessity of reconciliation, as admits of no excuse …By all these things making it manifest that this Table does not receive those who are at enmity with one another…” (The Bible and The Holy Fathers for Orthodox. P.150. cf. St. John Chrysostom. Homily XVI on Matthew V, 11.)
Today’s epistle reading of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans expounds upon the charity, that as devout and faithful Christians, must be taken extremely serious; so seriously that as St. John Chrysostom states, “that this Table (the Holy Altar) does not receive.”
Does this mean we do not turn to The Holy Table because of the seriousness of the state we are called to be in? It does mean that we minimally must be doing our part with integrity and sincerity, “A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.” (Psalm 50:19)