Sunday Gospel Reflection
Jesus called Matthew and said to him, "Follow me"
Introduction:
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" the Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples. Sometimes I wish the disciples had been a little quicker on their feet. They should have turned the question back upon their questioners. Why are you not eating with tax collectors and sinners? This is an appropriate question for the Pharisees, and for us as well.
Jesus came with a message from his Father to sinners, a message that says you are greatly loved. He came offering hope to sinners who are bound by the power and consequences of their sin, a hope that the chains of sin can be broken. How ironic that the Pharisees would think that Jesus would separate himself from the very people he came to rescue. How ironic that many of us who have been rescued from the bondage of sin and the fear of death which sin brings, should also separate ourselves from sinners. Sadly, we many times do so in Jesus' name.
The Pharisees, along with we who have chosen to separate ourselves from the presence of sinners, offer various reasons for our reluctance to associate with or befriend sinners. Here are just a few.
Contamination: If we associate and become friends with sinners we and our families might become contaminated due to their sinful language, attitudes and lifestyle.
Insecurity: In their unbelief they might bring up questions and spiritual problems that will threaten or challenge what we believe. If I don't have all the answers not only will I not influence them, my family and I might begin questioning our faith.
Complacency: It doesn't really matter to me that they are destined for hell or that they are missing out on the abundant life that is available in Christ. That's their problem not mine.
Selfishness: Developing relationships with sinners takes time and would disrupt my lifestyle. I like to spend all of my free time with family and friends. We have great times together. If I begin making friends with sinners it would interject a whole new set of variables into my life. I don't have time for that.
The excuses vary, but when we look at them we soon realize that they are indefensible, whether we are a Pharisee, or simply one of Jesus' reluctant followers. There really is no excuse that justifies our not befriending the "sinners" of the world and letting them know by our words and deeds that the Father loves them. As John Paul II has often said people are not looking for masters but for people whose lives and words are witnesses to hope. Though they may reject a religious program of witness that is interested in making a convert of them, they usually will not reject a Christian who is interested in offering them genuine friendship. Let's sit down to a meal with the sinners in our environ-ment and offer them the mercy and healing of Christ through our friendship.
First Reading
Hosea 6:3-6
3 Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going forth is sure as the
dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love
is like a morning cloud,like the dew that goes early away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.
Second Reading
Romans 4:18-25
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the
father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall your descendants be."
19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead
because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's
womb.
20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his
faith as he gave glory to God,
21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
22 That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness."
23 But the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,
24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the
dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Gospel Reading
Mt 9:9-13
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and
followed him.
10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with
Jesus and his disciples.
11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with
tax collectors and sinners?"
12 He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick
do.
13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come
to call the righteous but sinners."
Bible Study
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at
the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
-----Like Abraham, who followed God from the age of 75 when God told him to
uproot his family and go to a place which God will show him, Abraham responds immediately
to the call from Jesus. There is no hesitation about becoming a follower. A
"follower" of Jesus is one who literally walked in His footsteps and obediently
did all that was asked of him, whether he understood it or not.
10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners
came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
-----The "sinners" were unobservant Jews, not Gentiles.
11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your
teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
------Pharisaic Judaism held strictly to the principle of
avoiding contact with Gentiles and Jews who did not observe the Law; these were the social
outcasts of the community and no rabbi could afford to be seen with such as the likes of
them. The Pharisees may simply be surprised that Jesus would be seen with this sort of
person, rather than expressing hostility.
12 He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a
physician, but the sick do.
13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come
to call the righteous but sinners."
------Jesus responds to their snobbish remark with a quotation from our
first reading (Hosea 6:6). Human relations are more important than cultic worship. Mere
observance of the Law is an external form of living life and it is the interior
disposition which is important. Those who do not recognize their illness will not summon
the physician nor will they receive him; they are beyond healing. No one can approach
Jesus unless he confesses that he is a sinner and the faith that heals demands repentance.
Meditation
Where did Jesus look for his twelve apostles? Certainly not in the synagogue nor in the house of rabbis! He found Matthew "sitting at his tax office" counting his money no doubt! (Matt. 9:9). Jesus would have likely passed him by if Matthew hadn't looked up and acknowledged his presence. Jesus knew this was the moment to invite this most unlikely candidate to become one of his intimate friends and followers Tax collectors enjoyed no political, social, nor spiritual status in their community. They were despised by every one because they amassed wealth for themselves at the expense of overcharging others.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, his defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn't want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23).
Peter Chrysologus, an early church father, offers the following insight
into this event: "Jesus' sitting at table has more significance for Matthew than just
dining. Jesus will be feasting not on food but on the return of sinners. He
will call them back through feasting, collegiality and human affection, enjoying himself
with their pleasant conversation while reclining at table. He knew that if they
recognized him as a powerful judge they would be shattered by the terror of his majesty
and overwhelmed by the sheer presence of God unveiled. Thus, veiled in a human body
he was able to communicate with humans. He who wanted to assist the guilty hides the
fact that he was a judge. He who did not dignity to faithful servants conceals his
lordship. He who desired the weak to be embraced by a parent's love covers his
majesty." (Sermons 29:4)
Matthew's sudden and dramatic change from a shady publican to an ardent disciple of Jesus
must have startled everybody who knew him.What made him give up his lucrative business for
a carpenter-turned rabbi? It certainly wasn't money that drew him to Jesus.
Jesus offered him a treasure made in heaven that outweighed all he possessed or
every hoped to obtain. Matthew joyfully left all he had to follow Jesus. From
now on he would neither take money nor defraud anyone, but would instead offer free of
charge to all who accepted the treasure of God's kingdom. Jesus who knows our inmost
hearts and thoughts calls each of us when we are ready to respond fully. Matthew was
chosen by the Lord not because of his status but because of his faith and devotion.
The Lord personally calls each of us into an intimate relationship of friendship as
his disciples. He wants to share with us the treasure of his kingdom -
righteousness, peace, and joy in his Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) and the promise of eternal
life and happiness with the Father.
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you.
· As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew
sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and
followed him. (Mt 9:9)
----What can you learn about evangelism from Jesus' dealings with Matthew and
his friends?
---- Would you follow Him if he calls you? Would you follow Him for a
short distance? long distance? as long as you live?
. 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?"
(Mt: 9:10-11)
-----Did you ever criticize someone just because he/she showed more mercier
than you did by shaking hands with a person being condemned by people around?
-----Share one experience that you showed your acceptance by shaking hands
with a "bad" person? What was her/his reaction afterwards?
. He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not
need a physician, but the sick do. (Mt 9:12)
-----There are many ways Jesus could have presented himself to these
tax collectors and sinners. Why do you think he chose to refer to himself as a
"physician"?
. Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy,
not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mt: 9:13)
----Do you give thanks to God for the great mercy he has shown to
you?
To live His Word this week:
· Say hello and shake hands with someone at work that you have not done for a while.
. Do one charity work to pray for our priests and for religious vocation.
For Youngsters:
. Donate one of your toys to charity.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself. (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430