Daily Readings - Mon Sep 21 2020
Ephesians
1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Matthew
9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of unity and compassion within the Christian community. The first reading from Ephesians emphasizes that, despite our diverse roles and gifts, we are all part of the same body of Christ. Paul urges us to live with humility, patience, and love, preserving the unity of the Spirit. The Gospel from Matthew illustrates this unity in action, as Jesus reaches out to Matthew, a tax collector, and dines with sinners, challenging the Pharisees’ rigid understanding of holiness. Jesus’ response, “I have come not to call the just, but sinners,” underscores God’s mercy and desire for inclusion.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian community’s struggle to understand its identity and mission. Ephesians, written by Paul, addresses a Church composed of both Jews and Gentiles, urging them to live as one body in Christ. Matthew’s Gospel, on the other hand, reflects Jesus’ ministry to those on the margins, highlighting His mission to bring all people into God’s kingdom. Together, these readings remind us that the Church is not just for the perfect or the righteous but for everyone, especially those who feel unworthy or excluded.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to embrace our diversity and to reach out to those on the peripheries. Just as Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners, we are called to break down barriers and to create spaces of inclusion and understanding. The moral lesson here is clear: God’s mercy and love are not reserved for the few but are offered to all. Let us, therefore, live with humility and compassion, recognizing that each of us is a part of the one body of Christ, and that our unity is strengthened when we welcome and support one another.