Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 4 July 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 4 July 2014
Meditations: Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him. 10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’[Matthew 9:13 Hosea 6:6] for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”[Matthew 9:13 NU omits “to repentance”.]
Independence Day (USA)
Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. (Matthew 9:12)
Jesus could just as easily have been saying those who think they are well do not need a physician. Look at the difference between Matthew and the Pharisees who were hounding Jesus! Matthew must have known that Jesus was offering him something he needed because he immediately left everything behind to become a disciple. But it seems that the Pharisees remained closed to the life Jesus was offering them.
What a loss for them! Think of all the mercy, restoration, and power that Jesus was poised to shower on these men who had devoted themselves to God’s law. And not just the Pharisees, but to us! But to the degree that we think we don’t need it, or we need to prove ourselves worthy of it, we’re missing the joy and freedom that come from Christ.
So when you struggle, or when you sin, take courage. Rejoice! These things can serve as “speed bumps” to get your attention, so that you can slow down and hear Jesus calling your name. Just as he did for Matthew, he is waiting to share a meal with you—a blessing that he has been storing up just for you. St. Paul rejoiced in his weakness because he knew that it was then that God could show his strength through him (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). You too can rejoice as you see your need because it will move you to open yourself to more of God’s blessings!
Imagine how much untapped blessing we can close ourselves off from just because we are afraid to admit our needs. Or because we’re too self-conscious to let other people, like our confessor, see our weakness. Or because we don’t feel we’re worthy of God’s lavish love. Don’t let this happen!
Jesus is waiting. He’s looking at you with love and he wants to pour his mercy on you. He wants to bring you into his freedom. Imagine how the Pharisees’ response must have saddened him. And imagine his joy when any one of us follows Matthew’s example and welcomes him with open arms!
“Jesus, I run to you! I am not afraid to say that I am sick and in need of a physician. I need your mercy and forgiveness. Fill me with your life!” Amen.
Amos 8:4 Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy,
    and cause the poor of the land to fail,
5     Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain?
    And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat,
    making the ephah[Amos 8:5 1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel] small, and the shekel[Amos 8:5 a normal shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces.] large,
    and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;
6 that we may buy the poor for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of shoes,
    and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’”
9 It will happen in that day,” says the Lord Yahweh,
    “that I will cause the sun to go down at noon,
    and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
10 I will turn your feasts into mourning,
    and all your songs into lamentation;
and I will make you wear sackcloth on all your bodies,
    and baldness on every head.
I will make it like the mourning for an only son,
    and its end like a bitter day.
11 Behold, the days come,” says the Lord Yahweh,
    “that I will send a famine in the land,
    not a famine of bread,
    nor a thirst for water,
    but of hearing Yahweh’s words.
12 They will wander from sea to sea,
    and from the north even to the east;
    they will run back and forth to seek Yahweh’s word,
    and will not find it.
Psalm 119:2:1 Blessed are those who keep his statutes,
    who seek him with their whole heart.
10 With my whole heart, I have sought you.
    Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
30 I have chosen the way of truth.
    I have set your ordinances before me.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts!
    Revive me in your righteousness.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted,
    for I longed for your commandments.
-------