The giving and The giving and forgiving nature forgiving nature

of Godof God

In the passage from In the passage from

Matthew’s Gospel, Matthew’s Gospel,

we hear about we hear about

the way in which God the way in which God loves people and about loves people and about the importance of the importance of forgiving.forgiving.

As you listen to the passage note As you listen to the passage note downdown what surprises youwhat surprises you what makes you stop and thinkwhat makes you stop and think how you feelhow you feel words or phrases you likewords or phrases you like what is important to youwhat is important to you

Based on the Gospel of Matthew Based on the Gospel of Matthew Matthew 5 : 23 -24Matthew 5 : 23 -24

The commandments say ‘ you shall not kill’.The commandments say ‘ you shall not kill’. But I say this to you. Don’t hold anger But I say this to you. Don’t hold anger

against your brother or sister. Anyone who against your brother or sister. Anyone who calls a brother or sister names or considers calls a brother or sister names or considers him or her to be ‘good-for-nothing’ will be in him or her to be ‘good-for-nothing’ will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.danger of going to the fire of hell.

So if you are going to offer your gift to God So if you are going to offer your gift to God at the altar and you know that your brother at the altar and you know that your brother or sister has anything against you, leave or sister has anything against you, leave your gift there, in front of the altar. Go your gift there, in front of the altar. Go immediately and make peace with your immediately and make peace with your brother or sister first. Then you can come brother or sister first. Then you can come back and offer your gift to God.back and offer your gift to God.

Why Matthew says that before you Why Matthew says that before you bring your gift to God at the altar you bring your gift to God at the altar you must have first of all made peace must have first of all made peace with your brothers and sisters?with your brothers and sisters?

With your talking partner discussWith your talking partner discuss

Take some time to mediate on what Take some time to mediate on what the passage is saying to you. Use the passage is saying to you. Use your notes to help you.your notes to help you.

Discuss the thoughts Discuss the thoughts

and feelings you have and feelings you have

about the passage about the passage

with your group.with your group.

God’s LoveGod’s Love

Make a list of all the words and Make a list of all the words and phrases that describe God’s phrases that describe God’s love and all that you have love and all that you have discovered about God’s love discovered about God’s love from your meditation and from your meditation and sharing. sharing.

Now use the list to make a portrait in Now use the list to make a portrait in words and/or pictures of a ‘son or words and/or pictures of a ‘son or daughter of our Father in heaven’daughter of our Father in heaven’