FIRST READING
Amos 8:4-6, 9-12
Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?” We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”
On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end.
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east In search of the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
R. (Matthew 4:4) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
ALLELUIA
Matthew 11:28
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
REFLECTIONS:
What is God's call on your life? Jesus chose Matthew
to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew was religious or learned,
popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none of those. He chose to live
a life of wealth and ease. His profession was probably the most corrupted
and despised by everyone because tax collectors made themselves wealthy
by over-charging and threatening people if they did not hand over their
money to them. What did Jesus see in Matthew that others did not see? When
the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the future heir
to the throne of Israel, he bypassed all the first seven sons and chose
the last! "God looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man" he
declared. David's heart was like a compass looking for true north it
pointed to God. Matthew's heart must have yearned for God, even though
he dare not show his face in a synagogue the Jewish house of prayer and
the study of Torah God's law. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax
office no doubt counting his day's profit Jesus spoke only two words
"follow me". Those two words changed Matthew from a self-serving profiteer
to a God-serving apostle who would bring the treasures of God's kingdom
to the poor and needy.
John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, describes Matthew's
calling: "Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as he called
Peter and John and the rest? He came to each one at a particular time when
he knew that they would respond to him. He came at a different time to
call Matthew when he was assured that Matthew would surrender to his call.
Similarly, he called Paul at a different time when he was vulnerable, after
the resurrection, something like a hunter going after his quarry. for he
who is acquainted with our inmost hearts and knows the secrets of our minds
knows when each one of us is ready to respond fully. Therefore he did not
call them all together at the beginning, when Matthew was still in a hardened
condition. Rather, only after countless miracles, after his fame spread
abroad, did he call Matthew. He knew Matthew had been softened for full
responsiveness."
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating with
public sinners, Jesus defense was quite simple. A doctor doesnt need
to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise
sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of
the whole person body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician
and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness
of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion
that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care.
Their religion was selfish because they didnt want to have anything to
do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal
terms:
I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners.
Ironically
the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
On more than one occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For
I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Do you thank the Lord
for the great mercy he has shown to you? And do you show mercy to
your neighbor as well?
"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold;
Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse
them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with
your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence.
Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.
(Prayer
of Augustine, 354-430)
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