God seeketh thyself more than thy gift

Saint Augustine at Matins Today

Let no man deem it a light thing when he trespasseth against his brother. For the Apostle Paul saith in a certain place, ‘When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ’ (1 Corinthians 8:12). We are all members of Christ. How dost thou not trespass against Christ, which trespassest against one of His members? Let no man therefore say I have not trespassed against God, but only against my brother; that is, I have trespassed against my fellowman; and so the sin is light, if any at all. And perchance thou wilt argue that it is light, because it is quickly mended; thou hast trespassed against thy brother, but thou canst make satisfaction, and be right again; thou hast done the deadly thing quickly, and quickly canst thou find a remedy. O my brethren, which of us can hope for the kingdom of heaven, when we remember that the Gospel saith, ‘Whosoever shall say to his brother Thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire?’ (Matthew 5:22). It is a thought full of dread; but, lo! the remedy: ‘If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift’ (Matthew 5:23). God is not wroth that thou tarry or ever thou offer thy gift; for God seeketh thyself more than thy gift.