He saw a man named Matthew
Published Jul 2, 2021 12:15 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jesus’ “seeing” is not simply a matter of noticing someone by chance. He sees as no man sees—with a purpose. Just as he sees Nathanael “under the fig tree” (Jn 1:48) and the latter becomes his disciple, so Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the customs post and invites Matthew to follow him. But this is done not only to a tax collector whom people see as a public sinner, but to many like him! So the Pharisees grumble. But this is Jesus’ point: his presence brings solace to the marginalized, the downtrodden, the sinners. This is what tsedaqah (“righteousness”) means: God is just and merciful at the same time, and even as he shows mercy especially to the abandoned and the marginalized, he also justifies them and makes them whole again.
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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Jesus’ “seeing” is not simply a matter of noticing someone by chance. He sees as no man sees—with a purpose. Just as he sees Nathanael “under the fig tree” (Jn 1:48) and the latter becomes his disciple, so Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the customs post and invites Matthew to follow him. But this is done not only to a tax collector whom people see as a public sinner, but to many like him! So the Pharisees grumble. But this is Jesus’ point: his presence brings solace to the marginalized, the downtrodden, the sinners. This is what tsedaqah (“righteousness”) means: God is just and merciful at the same time, and even as he shows mercy especially to the abandoned and the marginalized, he also justifies them and makes them whole again.
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.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.