Friday, July 4, 2003
13th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Gen 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
Gospel: Mt 9:9-13

As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, "Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?"

When Jesus heard this he said, "Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Commentary

In the culture of Jesus' time more than in our own, table fellowship was a visible expression of a communion of life, a sharing of values and principles. The Pharisees who neatly divided people into the righteous and sinners saw Jesus' table company and they were scandalized. How could Jesus who claimed coming from God share a meal with public sinners? The holiness of Jesus consists not in whom he excludes but in whom he includes. Whom he sat at table with is a manifestation not of who is holy but who can be holy. He associates with people not because he is like them but because they can become like him. We will continue to see more and more gray heads bobbing in our churches unless we realize our own self-righteousness.

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