St Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist: Thursday 21st September, 2023 September 21, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
Following Jesus – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus called Matthew, a public sinner, to become one of His apostles. Matthew responded with firm conviction to follow Jesus and His Ways. This will bring great blessings on him and the world. Ponder on: Unlike Matthew, are we fearful about giving up our material attachments? If so, pray for God’s wisdom, to live in His ways.
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?