DAILY- HOMILY

September 21, 2015 MONDAY, 25TH Week in Ordinary Time       

ST. MATTHEW, Apostle and Evangelist         

Feast, Red

Eph 4:1 - 7, 11 – 13 / Mt 9:9 – 13

[St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, also called Levi, was a tax collector whom Christ called to follow him. He preached the Gospel as far as Persia or Ethiopia.]

Reading: Eph 4:1 - 7, 11 – 13 

     Therefore I, the prisoner of Christ, invite you to live the vocation you have received. Be humble, kind, patient, and bear with one another in love.

     Make every effort to keep among you the unity of Spirit through bonds of peace. Let there be one body and one spirit, for God, in calling you, gave the same Spirit to all. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God, the Father of all, who is above all and works through all and is in all.

     But to each of us divine grace is given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 

     As for his gifts, to some he gave to be apostles, to others prophets, or even evangelists, or pastors and teachers. So he prepared those who belong to him for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, until we are all united in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Thus we shall become the perfect Man, upon reaching maturity and sharing the fullness of Christ.

Gospel: Mt 9:9 -13 

     As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?"

     When Jesus heard this he said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Reflection:

     The Gospel reading today tells us that Christ came to save all, sinners and saints: "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."  

     The Pharisees and scribes were scandalized and upset that our Lord was at s dinner at Matthew's house, where "many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples, 'Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?'"  

     God's mercy is for all. In the Gospel of Luke the parables of the lost sheep, of the lost coin and of the prodigal son were given after the Pharisees and scribes complained, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Lk 15: 2)

     The sheep-owner celebrates on finding his lost sheep, "Celebrate with me for  I have found my lost sheep." "I tell you, just so, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine upright who do not need to repent."  (Lk 15: 6b – 7)

     The woman who finds her lost coin rejoices, "Celebrate with me for I have found the silver coin I lost!" "I tell you, in the same way there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner." (Lk 15: 9b – 10)

     And the father rejoices at the return of his prodigal son, "This brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad." (Lk 15: 32)

     In the case of the adulterous woman, Jesus quietly says, "Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her." "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? "No one." "Neither do I condemn you; go away and do not sin again." (Jn 7b, 10 -11) 

     "For the Lord is good: his love lasts forever and his faithfulness through all generations." (Ps 100: 5)

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     LUNINGNING DE QUIROZ

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the intentions of participants in the retreat of Alay sa Diyos Community on Sept. 25-27, 2015.

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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