DAILY- HOMILY

21 September 2016

Wednesday, 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, was a tax-collector before he was called by Christ.  From tradition he preached the Gospel as far as Persia or Ethiopia.

From the 1st Reading: Eph 4: 1 - 6

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.

Gospel Reading: 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

Jesus is the epitome of unconditional love, especially to sinners. How we wish we can be like Christ, who opened himself to sinners and gave them a chance to get to know him. But we are only human, we sometimes judge and condemn. 

Personally as an HR Professional involved in various industries, it's inevitable for me to meet different folks with different strokes. My humility and resilience have been tested, especially at the most critical situations. There have been times when I could not take an employee's cockiness or attitude and I easily judge. But I also realize that I should not judge and understand the individual by reaching out to him or to her. In the end, not only can I understand his or her situation but I also appreciate where the person is coming from. 

Through reaching out to them, I get to provide the most practical yet viable solution to their challenging circumstance. In the end, I ask myself: "Why am I in HR? So that I can make a difference in people's lives." 

Like Jesus, why does he reach out to sinners? So that he can touch their lives and they can come with him. 

May we be more like Christ who is ready to accept those who have strayed away? Let us continue to learn from his heart full of love and always ready to forgive.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Luningning de Quiroz

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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