GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical )
DATE: 1ST JULY 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Amos 8:4-6, 9-12
PSALM: Psalm 119:2,10,20,30,40,131
GOSPEL: Matthew 9:9-13
THEME: MERCY
Sitting dejectedly in a chair with tears rolling down his cheeks, he said, “I can’t believe that I committed that sin; the Lord will never forgive me”. He had been a faithful and active Christian in all respects and in the eyes of his contemporaries, he stood out in many ways as a role model. However, in his pursuit of holiness, he had forgotten that he was a vulnerable human being subject to human weakness. One day, he stumbled and fell right into the very sin for which he had despised so many sinners. He felt broken and crushed.
Empathising with him, I held his hands firmly and reminded him of an important saying of Jesus, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Mt 9:12-13). Later on in life, our paths crossed again and he reminded me of who he was and his story; he then added, “I had always thought of Jesus as a friend of the righteous, but now I know he is a real friend of the sinner.”
The call of Matthew and the decision of Jesus to sit at table with tax collectors and sinners for a meal, as narrated in our Gospel text, is an efficacious reminder to each one of us of the mission of Jesus Christ. It is one of mercy. He came for the sinner. He came to rescue and restore all those who are broken on account of sin. This is what grace is all about.
Unfortunately, like the Pharisees in the Gospel text, self-righteousness makes some of us to easily pass judgement on “sinners”, forgetting that we too are broken in many ways and in need of mercy. Perhaps, we may need to apologise to “sinners” for hiding from them the true face of Jesus – a face of mercy.
Have you fallen into sin and broken your heart in the process? There is good news for you. Jesus loves you as you are and he still wants to be your friend in this moment of need. He stretches his hands towards you and says, “Follow me.” Like Matthew, now is the right time to rise from your sin and follow Jesus!
Lord Jesus, I thank you for loving me, a sinner. I give up my sin today in gratitude for your mercy. Amen.
Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)