I met Rommel at the office. He was a troubled man. His wife left him because he was a drunkard. He was reprimanded several times for drinking in office premises. He isolated himself from the rest of the staff because he felt people didn’t understand him.

In one office retreat, Rommel asked to talk to me. He was clearly intoxicated. With hesitance in my heart, I accepted his invitation. We talked lengthily, man-to-man. He started crying unabashedly and poured his heart out. For the first time, I understood his predicament.

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” God wants us to show mercy and kindness more than religious, sacrificial acts. He came for those who made mistakes, not for those who think their lives are perfect. Jesus didn’t avoid messy people. He deliberately engaged them. He saw their past and offered to give them another chance. God’s love is for everyone, but especially for those who feel lost and broken.

That is His challenge for us too: to show love, mercy, and kindness because nobody is too far from God’s love. 

Boggs Burbos (boggsburbos@yahoo.com)

reflect

Is God calling you to minister to someone? Pray for them. Write down their names. Send a message and ask, “How are you?”

Lord, unworthy as I am, use me to show mercy to other people as You have shown mercy to me.

Saint Matthew, Apostle, pray for us.

First Reading | Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

At times, we must set aside personal convictions to maintain unity within the Body of Christ. This does not mean compromising the Gospel, but rather exercising charity when legitimate differences arise. When multiple valid opinions exist, yielding with grace can prevent division within our community. Let us pray that love will always be our guide, strengthening our relationships with one another.

¹ Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, ³ striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: ⁴ one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ¹¹ And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R: Their message goes out through all the earth.

² The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. ³ Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. (R) ⁴ Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew was a tax collector, despised by the Jews for collaborating with Roman authorities. To them, his profession was synonymous with sin, which is why the Gospels often group tax collectors alongside sinners. Yet, Jesus rejects such judgment, choosing instead to engage with all people, disregarding societal divisions. May we follow His example—embracing all who come to us without favoritism, offering love without condition.

Gospel Acclamation

We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

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.”

Reflect

“Love of Christ does not distract us from interest in others, but rather invites us to responsibility for them, to the exclusion of no one.” (St. John Paul II)

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 131 - 135 today.

Yes, You!

Inside the Contarelli Chapel in Rome, one can find the famous masterpiece of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio titled The Call of Matthew. This oil in canvas depicts Jesus’ call of the tax collector Matthew as depicted in today’s Gospel.

The painting shows Matthew dressed in typical gentleman style of Caravaggio’s time, leaning over the counting house table. Beside him is a man also leaning over the table with one hand reaching towards the many coins waiting to be counted. Standing at the door is Jesus, and right behind Him is Peter. As Jesus calls Matthew, He points a finger toward him. Anyone familiar with Michelangelo’s famous Creation painting can easily recognize that Jesus’ finger in the Call of Matthew resembles that of the Creator reaching out to Adam in the Sistine Chapel ceiling at the Vatican.

Matthew, incredulous that Jesus would call him, still has one hand protecting the coins probably coming from his loot for the day while his other hand points to himself as if saying, “Who, me?”

Caravaggio purposely depicted the finger of God to resemble that of the Creator giving life to Adam. Just as God called Adam out of nothingness into existence, Jesus called Matthew from the “nothingness” of sin to the fullness of a life lived in God.

Every now and then, I still get (well-intentioned) comments that go something like, “It must be very difficult for you, Father. You gave up so many things for Christ.” Honestly, I did not give up something; I only exchanged it for something just as good, if not better. Jesus did not take anything away. He just gave me something else.

So, give up the hand protecting your “loot” and be not afraid of Jesus’ call. When Jesus calls, you will lose nothing. On the contrary, you will gain everything. Yes, you! Jesus calls you. Do not miss out on your life-changing, life-giving opportunity. 

Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection questions

Is there anything you feel God is calling you to? Anything you feel you need to do or to be? What is holding you back?

Lord Jesus, grant me the sensitivity to the many ways, instances, and people by which You call me. Grant me the courage not to hold back. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________