24th Week in Ordinary Time: Saturday 21st September 2019

The call of Matthew, the tax collector, who is despised by the Jews, provides us with the model of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. No one is worthy of discipleship, but he or she is gratuitously called by Jesus. Jesus’ willingness to accept such a person as his disciple prepares for the way for all “kinds” of people to be accepted into his Church.

This is demonstrated by the fact that Jesus shows special mercy to sinners, with whom he shares table fellowship. The Pharisees are disturbed as to why Jesus could share a meal with these unclean people. In response, Jesus extols mercy before sacrifice. Mercy, then, determines the nature of Jesus’ messianic mission. He comes to invite sinners, especially those who think they are excluded from the banquet of mercy.

It is the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, that enables Christians to share in the unity of the “one Body, one Spirit” and are “called into one and the same hope”, and for whom there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.”

On our own, none of us is worthy to be called to discipleship, but through his grace, each of us is called by Jesus to a share in his life and mission. In actuality, it means no one can boast of being more gifted or qualified, or more specially called than another. If we wish to boast, then may we do so in acknowledging that we are mere sinners loved by God.

Lord, thank You for loving me.