Friday 5th July, 2019. Genesis 22:1-4.19; 24:1-8,62-67,
Psalm 106 and Matthew 9:9-13
_*“Those who are
well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what
this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:12-13)*_
The
famous Martin Luther’s dream was that one day his children would not be judged
by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. The Good
News for us today is that God does not judge us by the colour of our skin but
by the content of our heart.
To
everyone else, Matthew was the worst sinner in town. By merely accepting to
collect tax on behalf of the Romans, Matthew was being a traitor to a people
whose allegiance was to God and not the Roman colonialists. However, beyond collecting
taxes, it was the common practice those days for the tax collectors to charge
more than what was appropriate thereby eating from both sides and enriching
themselves.
The
very presence of Jesus in the house of Matthew was enough to arouse anger and condemnation
from those who hated Matthew as well as those who have been defrauded by him. This
encounter cast a shadow on Jesus’ moral credibility. In our day, the picture/video
clip of Jesus eating and laughing with Matthew and his fellow tax collectors
would go viral on all social media applications and arouse a media trial with
many throwing insults on one another.
While
people were busy pointing fingers, Jesus was busy winning a soul to himself. While
others were calling names, Matthew was busy examining his conscience. In the
end, this same Matthew became one of the greatest Evangelists of all time.
It
is okay to criticize others for their wrong deeds but it is more profitable to examine
one’s own heart instead because all that name-calling and insults will be of
no use if in the end, you are guilty of a much greater evil. Remember the two
men who went to the Temple to pray? One prayed only to himself while the other
who went home justified because he acknowledged his sinfulness.
As
St. Paul teaches us: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise,
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low
and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things
that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1
Corinthians 1:27-29).
In
his defence, Jesus said: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Am
I the kind of righteous person Jesus was referring to? Am I full of myself? Do
I judge and condemn others knowing full well my own hypocrisy? Do I see myself
as complete, perfect, holy and immune from mistakes? How often do I take out
time to examine my conscience? Am I willing am I to learn from other people’s
mistakes or do I consider it more important to publicise these mistakes?
From
my little experience, I have come to realize that those who condemn others a
lot end up been worse than those they condemn when given the chance. Stop pointing
fingers, start asking yourself: “If that was me, would I have done better?”
Stop complaining about our leaders and start asking: “How much do I know about
leadership? How am I training myself for such leadership positions? Am I free
from the sickness for which I am insulting my leaders?”
Let
us pray: Lord Jesus, you told a bold and risky step in visiting Matthew and his
colleagues, teach me to welcome sinners and use me to bring them closer to you.
Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 13th Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis 22:1-4.19;24:1-8,62-67, Psalm 106 and Matthew
9:9-13).
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