Daily Readings - Thu Sep 21 2017
Ephesians
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Matthew
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
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.