Wednesday, September 20, 2006

 

Feast, St. Matthew, apostle


September 21, 2006
Feast, St. Matthew, apostle
Thursday 24th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II

EPHESIANS 4:1-7, 11-13
Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a
manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of
your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each
of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. And he gave some as
Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors
and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for
building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of
faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent
of the full stature of Christ.

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
It would certainly seem that Matthew passionately desired wealth. He
collected taxes for the hated Roman conquerors. He was seen as
collaborating with the enemy. He made himself rich by squeezing taxes
out of the Jewish people, both rich and poor, whether by means legal or
illegal. The people despised him and ostracized him. He could enter no
synagogue; he had to live on the periphery of genteel society. To
accept such a life, Matthew must have had a passionate desire for
wealth.

Then one day Jesus stops at Matthew's table. He speaks two brief words
to him. "Follow me." Matthew immediately rises, leaving behind even his
passionate desire for wealth and follows Jesus, embracing his simple
life-style, his poverty, his total dependence on God for his daily
needs. Matthew found a better love than wealth. He spent the rest of
his life sharing his newfound love with others.

Like Matthew, we are also called to this task. God wants our lives to
reflect Christ and his values.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the speedy recovery of Cassy.
- for the healing of Marti.
- for the good health of Katie.
- for the personal intentions and good health of Bonnette, Bennie and
Dustin.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Fr. Steve D. Eternal rest
grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he and
the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the personal intentions of Emerson Lyndon Santiago, Noemi
Grace Santiago and Kristine Mae Santiago.
- for the good health and well-being of Epifania Santiago, Sofia
Constantino, Restituto Constantino and Sabina Santiago.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Julian Courtney Tangsoc
- Wedding Anniversary: Grace & Charles Ng
- In Memoriam (+): Felicidad Nubla
- for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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