Matthew: Apostle, Evangelist: Monday 21st September, 2020 September 21, 2020
Reflection on the WORD
Judgmental – Faith: In today’s Gospel Jesus called Matthew the public tax collector-sinner to be one of His apostles. He also dined with the other sinners. Jesus is reminding us not to be judgmental of sinners. Instead, reach out to them with Christ-like compassion. “Do we also pray for them”?
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking on he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinners.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In today’s Gospel, Matthew, a public sinner ostracized by society, immediately gave up everything to follow Jesus when He called him.
- Jesus teaches us to love and not be prejudiced to all peoples especially those who have been marginalized by society e.g. sinners, poor and the needy. Our Christ-like attitudes and respect for them can draw them closer to God.
- What are your prejudices in life? Ponder on how they affect the way you relate to them? How is Christ challenging you to be more like Him?