The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070717.cfm)
reminds me that God is always calling sinners.
When children make mistakes,
they are usually afraid to go to their parents. When they break something in
the house, they are not really excited to see their parents. When they have low
grades at school, they are not exactly looking forward to telling their
parents. We want to make our parents proud and happy, and having these things
are necessarily good news for them. They will not be happy and proud of these
things, but they still love their children. If parents are like this, how much
more God?
God does not
need you to change before he loves you.
I
believe that God's church is not a museum
of saints, but a hospital for sinners. God does not need saintly and
godly people. He makes you one. He takes
in sinners and loves them. He loves them so much that they
become filled with his love. And
they slowly change to be better people. However, in as much as God aims that we
become saints, he does not require it from us as we come to him.
The
gospel says that Jesus called Matthew, a sinner, a tax collector and went to
his place. Not only that, he dined with Matthew and his friends and co sinners.
And when people were murmuring, he defended them, saying that he came to call
sinners. That he is there to extend love and mercy to these sinners.
God is calling us whatever state we are in.
Jesus called Matthew as he was
doing his usual work. He was doing something bad. He does that to us too. We
may be sinners. We may have issues and concerns. We may have unresolved things
in our lives. God does not ask that we change, clean ourselves and fix our
lives before we come to him. God is just asking us to follow him. To come to
him. And to allow him to love us. And as we experience his love. His peace. His
forgiveness. Then we will slowly be transformed and become more like him.
May
we humble ourselves and follow God wherever we are right now.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love
and serve you. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I stay
away from you. Sorry for thinking that I have to clean myself first and fix
myself first before I come to you. Sorry for all my excuses. Help me be like
Matthew who followed you. No matter where I am and what I am doing, no matter
how imperfect my life is, I will stand up, follow you, and allow you to love
and transform me. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 381
Reading 1GN 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife."
After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
"Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac."
The servant asked him:
"What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"The LORD, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
'I will give this land to your descendants'–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!"
A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
"Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?"
"That is my master," replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah.
Responsorial PsalmPS 106:1B-2, 3-4A, 4B-5
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
AlleluiaMT 11:28
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 9:9-13
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."
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