Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9, 9-13
As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “”Follow me.””
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“”Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?””
He heard this and said,
“”Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.””
The gift is for others
1) Follow me. It’s interesting to see Jesus walking and Matthew sitting. Because you are likely to see Jesus when you stop for a while and sit still. Life is constant movement. You have to do things, move, decide, but it’s also good to stop and sit still, listen, look, and contemplate. You must look for a way to be quiet and let yourself be found. What’s more, if you don’t stop, life has a way of making you stop and, when you do, you have no choice but to watch and listen.
2) Sinners. Caravaggio is a painter whose story I came to know in Rome. They say that he was a giant of art and converted many people with his paintings, but in his personal life he did not give many good examples. But I learned from him that the gifts God gives you are not for you, but for others. You can do so much good in the lives of others with your gifts, even if many judge you for your own lifestyle. Don’t let people’s judgment block the little light you can give to others.
3) Mercy. In Christianity we are called to live a life devoted to God and giving opportunities to others. We mustn’t be Christians who shut others out; we should be open and dynamic. Today go out to be close to others. It’s possible that the person whom many point their finger at today, may be the person who’ll help many in the future. We shouldn’t point our finger at others; we’re called to live and encourage. We learn from the mistakes we make, and we understand that God has given us this life to live together with others.
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Never forget that something good is on the way.
