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Theo Tigno•
9/21/2004 11:36 am
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Feast of Saint Matthew |
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for those suffer from cancer.
Today is the Feast of St. Matthew.
"To give drink to the thirsty"
St. Matthew was someone in need of drink. One of my favorite scripture passages is when Jesus talks to the woman at the well, and tells her about "The Living Water."
Obviously, we are all in need of this "living water" and St. Matthew is not excluded from this. Unfortunately, the Pharisees had their own preconceptions of this man who is considered an outcast. They looked at this man, who would become a saint and write a Gospel that would draw many to Christ, and thought to themselves that this man is not worthy of being associated with.
"I desire mercy, not sacrifice"
Christ came to redeem us and our sinful nature. Christ looks at the sinner and sees a saint. Christ looks at the outcast and sees a friend. Christ sees someone who is thirsting and gives him an opportunity to drink. We must do the same in acting with mercy. We must be willing to trust others with "The Living Water." There are many outcasts in this world who are thirsting. Let us "learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Let us give drink to the thirsty. Take care and God Bless.
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