Calling Sinners

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070618.cfm) reminds me that God is calling sinners, whatever state we may be in. 

I remember that when I was little, I used to look forward to my parents arriving home. I get excited when I hear the car’s horn, knowing it was them. However, there was one time I broke a glass something, and when I heard the car’s horn, I was so scared because I thought they would be mad if they find out what I broke. I think this is a usual behavior. 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 done 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 our 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. 

Am I willing to come to God as I am? Do I set things, situations and conditions first before I go come to God? Do I believe that God will accept me for what I am? How can I come to God today?

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-

Daily Readings

July 6, 2018

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 381

Reading 1 AM 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 PS 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 MT 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 MT 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."