Daily Readings - Thu Sep 21 2017
First Reading - Ephesians 4.1-7, 11-13
Ephesians
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;One Lord, one faith, one baptism,One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Gospel - Matthew 9.9-13
Matthew
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound call to unity and compassion that lies at the heart of our Christian faith. The first reading from Ephesians encourages us to live in a manner worthy of our vocation, emphasizing humility, patience, and the preservation of unity within the body of Christ. It highlights the diverse gifts given to each of us, not for personal glory, but to build up the entire community in faith and knowledge of the Son of God. This passage, written to the early Christian community, underscores the importance of each member contributing to the common good, fostering a Church that is both unified and vibrant.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a vivid scene of Jesus' ministry, where he calls Matthew, a tax collector, and dines with sinners and outcasts. This act of inclusion provokes the Pharisees, who question Jesus' choice of companions. Jesus' response is a powerful reminder of his mission: he came not for the righteous, but for sinners. This encounter emphasizes the central theme of mercy over judgment, urging us to embrace those on the fringes of society just as Jesus did.
These readings together call us to reflect on our own lives and communities. We are challenged to live with humility and patience, using our unique gifts to serve others and promote unity. Like Jesus, we are to reach out with compassion to those who feel marginalized, remembering that it is mercy that truly reflects God's love. As we strive to live out our faith, may we be inspired by these teachings to create a community that is both inclusive and nurturing, where everyone can find their place in the body of Christ.