I remember being giddy when I first heard a preaching on how Rebekah became Isaac’s wife. The First Reading gives a glimpse of the whole story, so I was moved to read and reflect on the full text again in Genesis 24. Rebekah was chosen to be Isaac’s wife because she was willing to serve, go the extra mile, and follow God’s call. When she finally saw Isaac walking in the field, it was like the perfect K-drama couple moment!

I’ve seen a lot of Rebekahs among the women at The Feast who follow the Lord wholeheartedly and are now happily married. There are also those who remain single and find utmost joy in serving the Lord. This bolsters my belief that every act of faithful service to God will never go to waste. In His perfect time, He blesses all with His most perfect will.

Friend, are you waiting for a blessing? Keep serving. Keep following God. Keep being the best version of yourself in God’s eyes. Whatever vocation you are led to, believe that despite this imperfect life, there will be abundant joy and grace—all from our loving God.

Kring Talladen (kringtalladen@gmail.com)

Reflect:

Are you single, married, or religious? Think of the many blessings God has given you in your life. Thank God because, surely, it will take you forever to count them all.

Dear God, as I wait for my wonderful future, help me to embrace the present, serving and loving You wholeheartedly. Amen.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us.

Many of the love stories in the Old Testament are beautiful in their simplicity. Faith is one of the primary aspects of these stories. It teaches us about faith and the important role it plays in our lives. I am not advocating an over-spiritualization of the natural events and happenings in life, but I am encouraging us to give God a chance to work in us. We may be surprised at how He will lead us.

¹ The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years. ² She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her. ³ Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites: ⁴ “Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife.” ¹⁹ After this transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. ^24:1 Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. ² Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: “Put your hand under my thigh, ³ and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4 but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac.” ⁵ The servant asked him: “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?” ⁶ “Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him. ⁷ “The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants,’ he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there. ⁸ If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!” ⁶² A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb. ⁶³ One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching. ⁶⁴ Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel ⁶⁵ and asked the servant, “Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?” “That is my master,” replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil. ⁶⁶ The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done. ⁶⁷ Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her, Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 106: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. ² Who can tell the mighty deeds of the Lord, or proclaim all his praises? (R) ³ Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. ⁴ Remember me, O Lord, as you favor your people. (R) Visit me with your saving help, ⁵ that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 9:9-13

The statement of Jesus is true: It is the sick who needs the doctor. We are sinners, and we need Jesus and the grace of His forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness is difficult, so let us pray for the grace to do it as often as necessary. Let us admit our need for God’s forgiveness and the humility to reach out and ask Him for it. 

Gospel Acclamation

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

⁹ 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. 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: 

“We must understand then that even though God doesn’t always give us what we want, He always gives us what we need for our salvation.” (Saint Augustine)

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 CHRONICLES 10 - 12 today.

The call of Matthew was totally unexpected. He was, after all, a publican, an outcast, a reject. He was a persona non grata among Jews. In short, he was a public sinner. But the grace of salvation is sheer and pure gift—totally unmerited, absolutely undeserved, but granted gratis et amore (freely and with love) by the Savior!

Once someone who did not belong, Matthew was called to become one of the pillars of the Church, called by no less than the Founder.

How reassuring! I don’t know about you, but I am definitely undeserving of all this: By the grace and mercy of God, I am what I am, and I do what I do for God’s very own people. No, grace cannot be stopped by a tax collector’s desk and drawers, and salvation is never a monopoly of the well-bred, the high-born, and the morally prim and proper.

How consoling! Matthew, by worldly standards, ought to not make it to the short list. But we might miss the important part: Let it be clear that, when Matthew got up and answered the call, he did not pack his things and carry everything with him. Matthew the Publican became Matthew the Apostle because he relinquished his sinful trade. He left everything and followed the Lord. Matthew the public sinner had the chance now of becoming a saint. How true this statement is: “Every saint has a past, and every sinner a future.”

Are you a sinner? Fine! Welcome to the club of humanity! Do you want to be a saint? That is the future God wants for you and me, sinners though we are!

Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

You can be a saint, whatever your past or current circumstances may be. Do you embrace the call?

Sinful as I am, I long to be in the company of Your saints in heaven, Lord. Help me! Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________