Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mt 9: 9-13
July 07, 2023 | Friday
As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew, at his seat in the custom-house; and he said to him, “Follow me!” And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why is it, tax collectors?”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go, and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Today’s Reflection:
After calling to discipleship Matthew the tax collector, Jesus is challenged by others for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Forgiveness is not only something to receive. It is also a gift to celebrate,which is exactly what Jesus does. The dinner in Matthew’s house where Jesus and His disciples sit at the table with many tax collectors and sinners becomes a celebration of forgiveness received. For the Pharisees who ask about Jesus’ practice of eating with tax collectors and sinners, the meal was an important occasion and sign of fellowship. Their banquets were opportunities to share one another’s company and food under religiously controlled circumstances. The fact that Jesus openly shared meals with them was scandalous behavior according to the Pharisees perspective. In today’s setting, let us also reflect on the following: To whom do we share our meal or table? Do our meal moments; remain a time for family or fraternal sharing? /Vulnerasti, 2023
