Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/398

 And now,  what  are  the  remedies  for  these  sins? Our Lord  shows  us  by  word  and  example. " If, therefore,"  He  says,  "  thou  offer  thy  gift  at  the  altar, and  there  thou  remember  that  thy  brother  hath  anything against  thee,  leave  there  thy  gift  before  the altar  and  go  first  to  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother, and  then,  coming,  thou  shalt  offer  thy  gift." If you are at  war  with  your  neighbor,  through  your  own fault, your  first  and  greatest  duty  is  to  go  to  ham  and apologize. But, you  say,  it  is  all  his  fault. Even so, go to  him  and  be  reconciled. But a  silent  coolness is the  best  preserver  of  the  peace? No, in  your  spiteful heart  you  feel  there  is  no  peace. You call  a  bitter taunt fraternal  correction,  but  why  then  are  you ashamed to  look  your  brother  in  the  face? You pick his  character  to  pieces  and  find  an  accusation against him  even  in  his  best  actions. The Pharisees did the  same  to  Our  Lord  and  are  lost  accordingly. Now you  do  not  wish  to  be  Pharisees,  but  good  Christians, true  followers  of  Him  who  said:  "Love  your enemies,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  pray  for them  that  persecute  you." Go, therefore,  to  your enemy at  once,  at  least  in  spirit  and  if  possible  in  person, and  take  him  by  the  hand  and  beg  him,  for  God's sake  and  your  own  peace  here  and  happiness  hereafter, to  forget  and  forgive. But what  if  he  refuse? No matter,  you  have  done  your  duty. Our Lord knew well  He  never  would  win  over  the  Scribes  and Pharisees, but  still  He  tried,  and  He  expects  the same of  you. But will  not  something  else  do  just  as well,  a  rigorous  fast  or  a  more  generous  alms? No,