Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - Rising to a Higher Life

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 7-7-23 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Matthew 9:9–13

Friends, our Gospel for today
is the simple but magnificent story of the conversion of Matthew.
I urge you to read it and meditate upon it this week,
for it’s about you.
The Bible says that Jesus told Matthew,
“Follow me.”
The call of Jesus is meant to get into your mind,
and then past your mind into your body,
and then through your body into your life,
into your most practical decisions.

And then we hear that Matthew “got up and followed him.”
The verb used here in the Greek is the same verb
used to describe the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead:
Matthew rose.
Conversion means a transition into a higher life,
arising from a preoccupation with the goods of the world
and a reorientation to the things of God.

Then we hear what happened after Matthew’s conversion:
“While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors
and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.”
This deeply annoys the Pharisees, who ask of Jesus’ disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
The answer is that Jesus loves sinners,
and he doesn’t require perfection before he approaches them.

[MurphsLaw]

+++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."" +++