Have you ever seen an unfinished bridge? I once visited a village where they proudly began building a beautiful concrete bridge over a river. Great foundation. Impressive pillars. It even had decorative railings on one side. But halfway through, the project stopped. Politics changed, policies changed, Budgets dried up. Now it just stands, suspended midair like a promise never kept.
It’s funny until you realize: that’s what many of our relationships look like, half-built. We start with connection, trust, and love… and then something happens. A harsh word. A betrayal. Silence. Ego. Or like most of us, we don’t explode in rage, we freeze in silence. We master the art of polite distance, just smiling at people we secretly avoid. leaving that bridge hanging, unfinished, awkward, and unusable and slowly, quietly, we let the bridge rot. One misunderstanding at a time.
Go and Be Reconciled
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says something that should stop us in our tracks: “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has something against you, leave your gift. Go first and be reconciled.” Now, let’s be clear, this is not convenient. Imagine if we took this seriously: how many of us would still be sitting here? The entire Communion line would evaporate faster than free donuts at Dunkin Donuts. But Jesus means it. Because for Him, reconciliation isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
In ancient Jewish tradition, the altar was holy. Bringing a gift was a big deal. But Jesus shocks His audience by saying: “God can wait. Your broken relationship cannot.” In other words, don’t come to church and pretend everything’s fine if your heart is still at war with someone.
Taking the First Step
He doesn’t say, “If you have something against your brother.” No, He says, “If your brother has something against you.” Even if you’re not the angry one. Even if you’re “technically right.” Go. Take the first step.
Let’s admit, this is hard. Some of us would rather climb Everest barefoot than say, “I’m sorry.” Maybe the other person won’t forgive me. Maybe they’ve passed away. Maybe it’s complicated. But Jesus isn’t asking for perfect outcomes. He’s asking for sincere beginnings.
He asks us to try. To make the call. To write a letter. To open the door. To pour another bucket of cement to complete the bridge. Complete the bridge. Whether they cross it, is their choice. But at least it will be there.
Jesus Meets Us
The unfinished bridge is not just a symbol of broken relationships; it’s a symbol of what we leave undone when we prioritize pride and ego. And here's the beautiful part, when we dare to take that awkward, vulnerable first step… grace meets us halfway. God doesn’t just wait on the other side of the bridge, He walks toward us, ready to carry what we cannot.
So today, as we approach this altar, let’s look behind us. Is there someone stranded on the other side of the bridge we abandoned? A sibling? A friend? Or maybe even ourselves? Leave the gift. Go first. Complete the bridges. And when you return, your offering will rise, not just as a ritual, but as a real act of love. Because what God desires most isn’t the gift in your hands, it’s the peace in your heart, it is peace in your heart that Heaven takes notice.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
