Daily Readings - Fri Sep 21 2018
Ephesians
1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till 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:
Matthew
9And 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.10And 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.11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.13But 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 live a life of unity and humility, and to embody God's mercy in our interactions with others. The first reading from Ephesians encourages us to embrace our Christian vocation with humility and patience, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit. It highlights the diverse gifts we receive, such as apostles, prophets, and teachers, all intended to build up the body of Christ. This passage emphasizes that our unity is not about uniformity but about harmonious diversity, each contributing our unique gifts for the common good.
The Gospel from Matthew illustrates this teaching through Jesus' actions. When Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, and dines with sinners, He exemplifies the unity and mercy spoken of in Ephesians. The Pharisees' criticism prompts Jesus to quote Hosea, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," underscoring God's preference for compassion over ritual. Jesus' ministry is one of inclusion, reaching out to those on the margins, and this challenges us to do the same.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to humility and mercy. We are urged to recognize the gifts in others and work together for the edification of our communities. Just as Jesus reached out to sinners, we too should embrace those who feel excluded, showing compassion and understanding. Let us remember that our faith is not about judgment but about love and inclusion. By living out these values, we become the body of Christ, united in our diversity and merciful in our interactions.