January 15, 2005 - Saturday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time

God Calls the Weak

Readings:
Heb 4:12-16; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
 Mk 2:13-17

Opening Prayer

God of mercy and compassion,
you call weak people, sinful as they are,
to give shape to your dreams
about people and their world
and to be instruments of salvation.
Give us trust, not in our own strength,
but in the power of your love,
which can do through us and with us
what we ourselves are incapable of.
We thank you for calling us
out of our frailty and alienation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

The word of God is alive and active, says the first reading. It is so alive and active that this word of God, spoken by Jesus, changes sinners into saints. This word can judge, but it judges with mildness: by offering new chances. Do we offer these chances to others? Or does our attitude – if not words – of condemnation keep people confined within their mediocrity and failures?

First Reading: Heb 4:12-16

For the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and judges the intentions and thoughts of the heart. All creation is transparent to Him; everything is uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we render account.

We have a great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for he was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning. Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace; we will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R (see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R (see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R (see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the LORDis pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R (see John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Gospel Introduction:

Matthew is a typical sinner, a tax collector, one who was not only exploiting his own people but a traitor to them as a collaborator with the Romans. But he responds to Jesus’ call and becomes an apostle and martyr, faithful to the end.

Gospel Reading: Mk 2:13-17

When Jesus went out again beside the lake, a crowd came to him and he taught them. As he walked along, he saw a tax collector sitting in his office. This was Levi, the son of Alpheus. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." And Levi got up and followed him.

And it so happened that while Jesus was eating in Levi's house, tax collectors and sinners were sitting with him and his disciples for there were indeed many of them. But there were also teachers of the Law of the Pharisees' party, among those who followed Jesus, and when they saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why! He eats with tax collectors and sinners!"

Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Commentary

JESUS alternates between preaching and healing and calling more disciples to join his company. Now it's Matthew, a minor tax collector, a public sinner who was in collusion with the Roman empire and so despised. But Jesus is delighted to go to a party with Matthew's other sinner-friends and when he is murmured against he responds as a prophet would: first eating with them (the first announcement of forgiveness given) and then telling everyone else that he's here to call the sick to his side, the sinners and not the healthy and the righteous.
And us-who do we think we are? Not bad, trying hard, slipping here and there, but basically OK? Or do we know, as any disciple does, that we are not what we put ourselves forth to be, but are in need of a doctor, someone to teach us how to live with one another and forgive us, again and again and again?

General Intercessions

–          For the Church, a community of saints an sinners, that we, the people of God, and our leaders may not so much condemn  those who fail but give them new chances in life, we pray:

–          For people who have failed often and no longer dare believe in themselves, in God or in the community, that they may draw new courage and hope from our understanding and compassion, we pray:

–          For priests and religious, that they may keep trusting in the Lord who called them notwithstanding their human weakness, and that with Christ they may care especially for the poor and the weak, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
your Son did not deem it below his dignity
to go to the houses of sinners
and to eat and drink with them.
We are thankful that here today
he sits at table with us, weak people.
We recognize your merciful love.
All we can say is: Thank you, Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer After Communion

God, in this eucharist
we have your experienced your forgiving mercy
and your call for hope and trust in you.
May we never look down
on people struggling against their weakness
or too tired to stand up.
Help us to recognize in them
our own flesh and blood torn apart
and crying out, aloud or in silence,
for an understanding heart and a helping hand,
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

How daring of Jesus, how sure of himself! Jesus chooses one whom all consider a public sinner and makes him his apostle, to build his Church on him, as also on some other apostles who will show signs of great weakness. God trusts us. Let us also trust him and ask for the Blessing of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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