Gospel

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.”

Reflection

I want you to focus on Matthew. He's sitting there doing his work as a hated customs officer, taking money from people that they do not feel they really need to pay. And two words are placed in his imagination from this God, man, Jesus. Follow me. What is it in him that gave him the courage to drop everything and follow him?

Other than something deep within each of us that knows the truth, and when the truth calls us, we need to be ready to respond. It's a beautiful image of how grace works within each of us. If we see it for what it is. It will draw us into its world, into its truth, and into its life. Take this time to reflect on these thoughts, and I will close with a prayer.

Closing Prayer

Father, we go to the inner part of ourselves to reflect. It's essential that we do this work. And the more we go there, the more we're inviting you to show us things about us that we know are there, but we're not fully enough aware of them to respond to what they call us to do. Give us that kind of wisdom. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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