Rev. LuAnne Stanley Hook, preaching Matthew 5:23-24 Questions for reflection: 1. Is there something that you once thought was silly or beneath you, and then you rediscovered its value, like LuAnne did with paint-by-number? How did you find your way to it, or back to it? 2. Most of us have some broken or unreconciled relationships in this day and age. Is there one that weighs on you a bit more, stealing your peace? 3. Read Matthew 5:23-24. “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift.” Why do you think Jesus specifies bringing your gift to the altar as a time when you might remember a broken relationship? Have you ever gone to God in prayer or come to church and had a broken relationship come to your mind? What did you do? 4. LuAnne asks the question, “What if Jesus is saying that the quality of your relationship with God, of my relationship with God is only as good as the quality of our most estranged and broken relationship?” What are your thoughts about this? 5. Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu say that “renewing our relationships is how we harvest the fruits that forgiveness has planted.” (p. 148, The Book of Forgiving) And LuAnne says that harvesting is hard work, especially when it involves reconciliation. What is the hardest part of this work for you? Getting started? Staying in the conversation as it gets more tense? Wanting to reconcile at all? Or something else? What sweet fruit might come from doing it? 6. The apostle Paul, in his weakness, heard from Jesus, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” If Jesus brings a situation to your mind, he is asking you to do something about it, and he will help you if you let him. What difference does this make to you in approaching your broken relationships? What would it mean to you to name your weakness to God, and to go first in the renewing process?