ARE YOU SICK?

People who are in good health do not need a doctor; sick people do. ? Matthew 9:12

The other day I heard from a friend that one of their colleagues died of a massive heart attack at 31, leaving behind a wife and two very young children. I?ve heard of several others who died in a similar way with the same profile ? healthy looking, no symptoms, and no previous heart problems.
      It?s really deceiving when you feel healthy. Nothing prompts you to go for a regular medical check up. Same thing with your teeth. You only go to the dentist when you feel pain. Chances are, by then the condition of your teeth is already bad.
      The Pharisees criticized Jesus for hanging around with outcasts. Their ?holiness? might be contaminated. Little did they know that those ?scums? were entering heaven even ahead of them. These scums knew how unholy they were and how much they needed Jesus to help them straighten out their lives. Just like what is usually said of addicts ? the first step towards recovery is the acknowledgement of your addiction and the realization that you need help.
      A person can not be made well if he does not think he is sick and does not seek help. Rowena L.

REFLECTION:

When was your last spiritual check-up by the Great Physician?

Remove every trace of spiritual pride in my heart, Lord.

G O S P E L

Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew is a tax collector and as such is despised by the Jews for being a collaborator with the occupying Roman power. To the Jews, such a profession was tantamount to sin itself, hence the phrase often found in the Gospels that lumps tax collectors and sinners on the same level. Jesus will have no part of this judgment and seeks to overcome it through associating with all classes and levels of people as though such distinctions do not exist. Let us seek to live in the same way, loving all who come to us and never seeking to favor one person over another.

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs  post. He said to him, ?Follow me.? And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, ?Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?? 12 He heard this and said, ?Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ?I desire mercy, not sacrifice.? I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.?

my reflections
think: Let us seek to love all who come to us and never seek to favor one person over another.

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God?s special verse/thought for me today________________

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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Micah 1-4

I often wonder why God chose me to become a priest. I can think of many who would have seemed to be a much better choice. I am not complaining about His choice, but there are times when I wonder what it is in me that led God to call me. Ultimately, I just have to learn to trust in His wisdom and do the best that I can with all that He entrusts to me. This will certainly make for a very exciting life as God?s will unfolds and I watch Him work His marvels in the lives of those I meet.
      I am sure Matthew must have had similar musings from time to time. Tax collectors were one of the most hated people in Israel during the Roman times because they were seen to be not only corrupt, but also traitors to the Jewish nation. That?s because they were cooperating with the Roman conquerors to raise money to finance the occupation. It is not surprising that the Scriptures often couple the tax collectors with the sinners when they want to indicate the dregs of human society!
      This does not stop Jesus calling Matthew to be His disciple. It does not seem to matter to Jesus what the previous occupation of any of His disciples or followers were. One of his woman companions was a prostitute. Paul was a persecutor and probably a murderer of Christians before his conversion to Christ. Many of the saints led far from perfect lives before they responded to the call to follow Jesus. Hey! We should be rejoicing in all this because it means that there is still hope for us to become saints!
      The two key aspects we need to consider are hearing and responding to God?s call, and realizing that all are dependent upon the work of His grace in our lives. It is not our ability or strength that matters; it is not the environment in which we live, though that can help. It is whether or not we respond to the grace God offers us for our salvation. Every one of us is offered sufficient grace for our salvation with which we can become saints. Why is it that so few of us take up this offer to the full? Fr. Steve T.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
What is the most important desire in my life? I hope it has something to do with living out my salvation in fear and trembling of the Lord!

Father, thank you for choosing me to follow your son, Jesus. Help me to accept your generous offer of grace and to never allow myself to be distracted from the primary goal of living out the call you place upon my life.