“Those who are well do need a physician, but the sick do." (Mt 9:12)
FIRST READING: 1 COR 15:12-20
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters:
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead,
then neither has Christ been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching;
empty, too, your faith.
Then we are also false witnesses to God,
because we testified against God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY: LK 8:1-3
From the Gospel according to Luke
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW THE APOSTLE - September 21 - Gospel (Mt 9:9-13)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
Today's Word of God tells about Jesus choosing and calling Saint Matthew to be an apostle. He was a man with a sinful past, but was chosen by God to follow Him; and the Word of God also speaks about His immense mercy towards humanity.
God came to the world to save sinners, to save those who are suffering in soul and body, and to save those who are in need of God's mercy. He came to eat, to live and to walk with sinners, and those who are sick in soul and body. Why is God, the Supreme Being, the One who has full authority over the body and soul of man, so humble and lowering himself to accompany and help man escape from the slavery of sin and the captivity of Satan? It is because of His boundless love and mercy. In this world, no one has a love as great as God's love for mankind. He always understands and sympathizes with the suffering of man and He accepts their prayers, He has mercy on all the souls imprisoned by Satan.
In today's Gospel, God called Saint Matthew to follow Him, he was a tax collector who was considered a sinner by the people. God saw that his soul needed His mercy, He came near and called: "Follow Me!"
Saint Matthew's soul was touched by the heart of God, the saint left everything to follow Jesus. Because Jesus himself came to eat and walk with him, the tax collectors and other sinners. He guided and helped their souls escape from Satan's captivity, and healed the wounds in their souls. God is not arrogant, not complacent, He disregards the ridicule and criticism of the world, He always shows the kindness, mercy and tolerance of a Father, to soothe the suffering and sinful souls.
Besides, Satan has infiltrated the minds of the Pharisees, they said: "Why does your Teacher eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Through that question, it shows that: they are arrogant people, thinking of themselves as righteous, pure, and innocent; but in fact they are sinful people before God.
Through the image of sinners sitting at the table with Jesus, and the image of the arrogant Pharisees, today, God wants to invite everyone: to run to God, be humble, recognize your sinful, weak status, need God's mercy and cleanse all the stains in your soul to be worthy of His salvation. Because Jesus said: I came to save sinners, to soothe and heal the wounds of humanity. Whoever considers himself righteous, pure, and innocent before God, that person is truly a fool. Because only God is pure, innocent, and holy, no one is perfect before Him. Therefore, today, God wants to warn and invite everyone:
- Beat your chest in sincere repentance before God, recognize yourself as a sinful, weak person who needs God's correction, needs God to heal your spiritual and physical illnesses. If you can do that, you will be saved by God.
- Follow the example of Saint Matthew: admit that you are a sinner; He dared to give up everything to follow Jesus, because only God can give peace, happiness and eternal life.
Therefore, while still living on this earth, everyone should try to live and do according to God's commandments, give up everything and follow Him, then you will live forever in His Father's Kingdom.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Comments