Daily Readings - Mon Sep 21 2020
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 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.