Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
In our gospel for
today we hear the familiar story of Jesus’ calling St. Matthew from collecting
taxes to that of being His follower. During the time our Lord walked among us,
tax collectors were greatly hated by the Jewish people. Tax collectors used any
means possible to collect taxes for the Roman government. To the Jewish people
these were great sinners since they were turning away from the practice of
their faith to that of service to the oppressive Roman government.
So, the Scribes and
Pharisees were scandalized seeing that Jesus was eating and socializing with
these public sinners. They couldn’t understand why someone like Jesus would be
with such horrible people. The Scribes and Pharisees had already given up
trying to convince these people to turn away from their sinful activity.
Further, they were being hateful and judgmental towards these children of God.
They felt that by their sinful activity, tax collectors and sinners had already
condemned themselves in the eyes of God.
But Jesus knew
better. By showing love, compassion and forgiveness towards these tax
collectors and sinners, Jesus was showing them that they, too, can enter into
relationship with God and get His forgiveness.
Jesus also is
turning to each one of us and invites us to follow him as he did with Matthew.
We are all sinners and are in need of the forgiveness and love of God. The Scribes
and Pharisees weren’t able or willing to show love to anyone they considered
rejected by God. We, for our part, need to know and understand that the love
and forgiveness of God, as expressed by Jesus Christ, is for all people. We
should approach God with open arms and open hearts asking God for forgiveness
for the times when we fell short of loving Him and others as we should.
Further, we need to
be able to see that God loves all those people in our lives that we feel aren’t
as good as they should be. There are people that we know that may be far from
God for whatever reason. Only God can judge their hearts. We just need to
remember that God’s love and forgiveness is for all people, even the people
that seem the most unlovable.
Let us always show
mercy towards those who may be struggling in their relationship with God.
Further, let us always seek out Jesus in our lives and ask him for His love and
forgiveness to fill our hearts and lives.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteFor a long time I used to struggle with the statement of Our LORD in the GOSPEL that there was more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need penance. I also relate to the Elder Son in the parable of the Prodigal Son, because it feels like the faithful son who worked hard, stayed home to help his father & did all the right things was taken for granted, while the sinful brother who deserted his father & lived a sinful life was given an unconditional welcome & a big party! I tend to feel that the Prodigal son should have been accepted & welcomed but should have had been put on probation before being restored to equal sonship status & given the big party!
Finally it dawned on me that even those of us who avoid evil, avoid occasions of sin, try to follow all the commandments scrupulously & devote our lives to loving & serving GOD & loving & serving people are not completely free of sin, even if our sins are a lot more subtle & harder to detect. For example, we might have to struggle to avoid being critical & judgmental of others or to avoid making comparisons or to avoid feeling envy, jealousy or competitiveness when someone else gets more recognition or to avoid pride & self-righteousness & failing to remember how much who they/we are & what they/we are able to accomplish are the result of the love & grace of GOD & the gifts & talents that were originally generously lavished upon us by the GOD Who loves us!
So except for Our LORD Himself & our Blessed Mother there is no human being who is completely sinless & who has no need to repent. So when we who consider ourselves "the good people" recognize our faults, weaknesses & areas of sinfulness & our need for GOD'S help, mercy & forgiveness & turn to the LORD, then the LORD & all of heaven are joyful & celebrate over us as well.