JULY 05, 2019 : FRIDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 381

Reading 1GN 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67

The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
"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."

After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
"Put your hand under my thigh,
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,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac."
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?"
"Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.
"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.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!"

A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel 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.


The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
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 PsalmPS 106:1B-2, 3-4A, 4B-5

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

AlleluiaMT 11:28

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

GospelMT 9:9-13

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.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Zaccaria, please go here.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, please go here.

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Meditation: "I desire mercy - not sacrifice"

What is God's call on your life? Jesus chose Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew was religious or learned, popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none of those. He chose to live a life of wealth and ease. His profession was probably the most corrupted and despised by everyone because tax collectors made themselves wealthy by over-charging and threatening people if they did not hand over their money to them. 

God searches our heart
What did Jesus see in Matthew that others did not see? When the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the future heir to the throne of Israel, he bypassed all the first seven sons and chose the last! "God looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man" he declared (1 Samuel 16:7). David's heart was like a compass looking for true north - it pointed to God. Matthew's heart must have yearned for God, even though he dare not show his face in a synagogue - the Jewish house of prayer and the study of Torah - God's law. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax office - no doubt counting his day's profit - Jesus spoke only two words - "follow me". Those two words changed Matthew from a self-serving profiteer to a God-serving apostle who would bring the treasures of God's kingdom to the poor and needy.

John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, describes Matthew's calling: "Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as he called Peter and John and the rest? He came to each one at a particular time when he knew that they would respond to him. He came at a different time to call Matthew when he was assured that Matthew would surrender to his call. Similarly, he called Paul at a different time when he was vulnerable, after the resurrection, something like a hunter going after his quarry. For he who is acquainted with our inmost hearts and knows the secrets of our minds knows when each one of us is ready to respond fully. Therefore he did not call them all together at the beginning, when Matthew was still in a hardened condition. Rather, only after countless miracles, after his fame spread abroad, did he call Matthew. He knew Matthew had been softened for full responsiveness."

Jesus- the divine physician
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus' defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to visit healthy people - instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn't want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came  not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

On more than one occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Do you thank the Lord Jesus for the great mercy he has shown to you?  And do you show mercy to your neighbor as well?

"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself." (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)

by Chromatius (died 406 AD)

"The Lord, about to give salvation to all sinners believing in him, willingly chose Matthew the former publican. The gift of his esteem for Matthew stands as an example for our salvation. Every sinner must be chosen by God and can receive the grace of eternal salvation if one is not without a religious mind and a devout heart. So Matthew was chosen willingly by God. And though he is immersed in worldly affairs, because of his sincere religious devotion he is judged worthy to be called forth by the Lord ("Follow me"), who by virtue of his divine nature knows the hidden recesses of the heart. From what follows, we know that Matthew was accepted by the Lord not by reason of his status but of his faith and devotion. As soon as the Lord says to him, "Follow me," he does not linger or delay, but thereupon "he arose and followed him." (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 45.1)

[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."]

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FRIDAY, JULY 5, MATTHEW 9:9-13
Weekday
(Genesis 23:1-4, 19, 24:1-8, 62-27; Psalm 106)

KEY VERSE: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do" (v. 12).
TO KNOW: Matthew ("Levi" in Mark and Luke) was a publican, a collector of taxes. Matthew was thought to be a sinner because he cooperated with the occupying Roman forces in the collection of taxes for the empire. What's more, tax collectors were often accused of extorting money from their own people and lining their pockets with the profits. When Jesus invited Matthew to follow him as a disciple he didn't ask Matthew to change his way of living. He simply said: "Follow me" (v. 9). Moreover, Jesus accepted an invitation to dine in Matthew's home along with many well-known sinners. The Pharisees, who were strict observers of the Law of Moses, were outraged and asked Jesus to explain his apparent disregard for their religious practices. Jesus condemned those who pretended to act virtuously and showed no compassion for people in need of mercy (Hos 6:6). Jesus' purpose in coming was to call sinners to repentance. Those who were spiritually 'sick' knew they had need of a healer; those who thought they were blameless did not recognize their need for Divine mercy.
TO LOVE: Do I respond eagerly to Jesus' call to reform my life?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be aware of my need for repentance.​

Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, priest

Anthony studied medicine at Padua, receiving his doctorate at age 22. Working among the poor, he felt called to the religious life. He bequeathed his inheritance to his mother, worked as a catechist, and was ordained at age 26. In Milan he established the Society of Clerics of Saint Paul (Barnabites, men religious), and the Angelics of Saint Paul (uncloistered nuns). These groups helped reform the morals of the faithful, persuaded laymen and women to work together with the apostolate, and encouraged frequent reception of Communion. While on a peace mission, Anthony became ill and died at his mother's house. Tradition says that in his last moments he had a vision of Saint Paul.​

Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, religious

Elizabeth (Isabella in Portugal) was the great-niece of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, for whom she was named. Married at age twelve to King Denis (Diniz of Portugal), Elizabeth became Queen of Portugal. Mother of two, Elizabeth suffered through years of abuse at the hands of her unfaithful husband. She prayed for his conversion, and worked with the poor and sick. The king appears to have reformed late in life, whether from Elizabeth's faith or his imminent death is unknown. After the king's death in 1325, she distributed her property to the poor, became a Franciscan tertiary, and retired to a monastery of Poor Clares which she founded at Coimbra. She was canonized in 1625; her body is incorrupt.

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Friday 5 July 2019

Day of Penance
Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67. Psalm 105(106):1-5. Matthew 9:9-13.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good – Psalm 105(106):1-5
‘And he got up and followed him.’

Today’s readings tell us something of the mysterious ways God works in human lives. Isaac and Rebecca ‘look up’ and their lives are changed. As Jesus walks, he sees Matthew ‘sitting at the tax booth’. Jesus calls him, saying ‘follow me’. Immediately, Matthew gets up and follows.

What an incredible encounter! Matthew is moved so deeply by Jesus’ call that he leaves his former life behind. His experience of the Lord’s mercy transforms absolutely everything. Pope Francis’ motto miserando atque eligendo comes from the Venerable Bede’s homily on this text: ‘Jesus saw the tax collector and by having mercy chose him.’

Lord, invite me to the waters of your mercy. Open me to your workings. Let me hear your call. Give me the courage to make a response of faith and trust. Then, keep me aware of the Spirit’s encouragement, accompanying me on the way.

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Saint Anthony Zaccaria

Saint of the Day for July 5

(1502 – July 5, 1539)

 

Sculpture of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican | Cesare Aureli

Saint Anthony Zaccaria’s Story

At the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuses in the Church, a reformation within the Church was already being attempted. Among the early movers of the Counter-Reformation was Anthony Zaccaria. His mother became a widow at 18, and devoted herself to the spiritual education of her son. He received a medical doctorate at 22, and while working among the poor of his native Cremona in Italy, was attracted to the religious apostolate. He renounced his rights to any future inheritance, worked as a catechist, and was ordained a priest at the age of 26. Called to Milan in a few years, he laid the foundations of three religious congregations, one for men, one for women, and an association of married couples. Their aim was the reform of the decadent society of their day, beginning with the clergy, religious, and lay people.

Greatly inspired by Saint Paul—his congregation is named the Barnabites, after the companion of that saint—Anthony preached with great vigor in church and street, conducted popular missions, and was not ashamed of doing public penance.

He encouraged such innovations as the collaboration of the laity in the apostolate, frequent Communion, the Forty Hours devotion, and the ringing of church bells at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. His holiness moved many to reform their lives, but as with all saints, it also moved many to oppose him. Twice his community had to undergo official religious investigation, and twice it was exonerated.

While on a mission of peace, he became seriously ill and was brought home for a visit to his mother. He died at Cremona at the age of 36.

---

Reflection

The austerity of Anthony’s spirituality and the Pauline ardor of his preaching would probably “turn off” many people today. When even some psychiatrists complain at the lack of a sense of sin, it may be time to tell ourselves that not all evil is explained by emotional disorder, subconscious and unconscious drives, parental influence, and so on. The old-time “hell and damnation” mission sermons have given way to positive, encouraging, biblical homilies. We do indeed need assurance of forgiveness, relief from existential anxiety, and future shock. But we still need prophets to stand up and tell us, “If we say ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

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Lectio Divina: Matthew 9:9-13

Lectio Divina

Friday, July 5, 2019

Ordinary Time

1) Opening prayer

Father,
You call Your children
to walk in the light of Christ.
Free us from darkness
and keep us in the radiance of Your truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 9:9-13

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. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

3) Reflection

• The Sermon on the Mount takes chapters 5, 6 and 7 of the Gospel of Matthew.   The purpose of the narrative part of chapters 8 and 9 is to show how Jesus put into practice what He had just taught.  In the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches acceptance (Mt 5:23-25, 38-42,43).  Now He puts it into practice by accepting the lepers (Mt 8:1-4), the foreigners (Mt 8:5-13), the women (Mt 8:14-15), the sick (Mt 8:16-17), the possessed (Mt 8:28-34), the paralytics (Mt 9:1-8), the tax collectors (Mt 9:9-13), unclean people (Mt 9:20-22), etc.  Jesus breaks the norms and customs which excluded and divided people: fear and  lack of faith (Mt 8:23-27) and the laws on purity (9:14-17) and He clearly states the requirements for those who want to follow Him. They should have the courage to give up many things (Mt 8:18-22).  In the same way in the attitudes and in the practice of Jesus we see in what the Kingdom and the perfect observance of the Law of God consists.

• Matthew 9:9: The call to follow Jesus.  The first people called to follow Jesus are four fishermen, all Jewish (Mt 4:18-22).  Now Jesus calls a tax collector, considered a sinner and treated as an unclean person by the community of the most observant of the Pharisees. In the other Gospels, this tax collector is called Levi. Here, his name is Matthew, which means gift of God or given by God.  The communities, instead of excluding the tax collector and considering him unclean, should consider him a Gift of God for the community, because his presence makes the community become a sign of salvation for all!  Like the first four who were called, Matthew, the tax collector, leaves everything that he has and follows Jesus.  The following of Jesus requires breaking away from many things.  Matthew leaves the tax office, his source of revenue, and follows Jesus!

• Matthew 9:10: Jesus sits at table with sinners and tax collectors. At that time, the Jews lived apart from tax collectors and sinners and they did not eat with them at the same table. The Christian Jews should break from this isolation and sit at table with tax collectors and with the unclean according to the teaching given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, the expression of the universal love of God the Father (Mt 5:44-48).  The mission of the communities was that of offering a place to those who did not have one. But this new law was not accepted by all.  In some communities people coming from paganism, even if they were Christians, were not accepted around the same table (cf. Acts 10:28; 11:3; Gal 2:12). The text of today’s Gospel shows us Jesus, who sits at table with tax collectors and sinners in the same house, around the same table.

• Matthew 9:11: The question of the Pharisees. Jews were forbidden to sit at table with the tax collectors and with sinners, but Jesus does not follow this prohibition.  Rather, He becomes a friend to them. The Pharisees, seeing the attitude of Jesus, ask the disciples,  “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” This question may be interpreted as an expression of their desire to know why Jesus acts in that way.  Others interpret the question as a criticism of Jesus’ behavior, because for over five hundred years, from the time of the exile in Babylon until the time of Jesus, the Jews had observed the laws of purity.  This secular observance became a strong sign of identity.  At the same time it was a factor in their separation in the midst of other peoples.  Thus, because of the purity laws, they could not  sit around the same table to eat with tax collectors.  To eat with tax collectors meant to get contaminated, to become unclean.  The precepts of legal purity were rigorously observed in Palestine as well as in the Jewish communities of the Diaspora.  At the time of Jesus there were more than five hundred precepts to keep purity.  In the years of the 70’s, at the time when Matthew wrote, this conflict was very timely.    

• Matthew 9:12-13: “Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice.” Jesus hears the question of the Pharisees to the disciples and He answers with two clarifications: the first one is taken from common sense: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”  The second one is taken from the Bible: “Go and learn the meaning of the words: ‘Mercy is what pleases Me, not sacrifice’.” Through these clarifications, Jesus makes explicit His mission among the people: “I have not come to call the upright but sinners.”  Jesus rejects the criticism of the Pharisees; He does not accept their arguments, because they came from a false idea of the Law of God.  He Himself invokes the Bible: “Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice.” For Jesus, mercy is more important than legal purity.  He refers to the prophetic tradition to say that mercy has greater value for God than all sacrifices (Hos 6:6; Isa 1:10-17).  God has profound mercy, and is moved before the failures of His people (Hos 11:8-9).  

4) Personal questions

• Today, in our society, who is marginalized and excluded?  Why? In our community, do we have preconceptions or prejudices?  What is the challenge which the words of Jesus present to our community?  
• Jesus asks the people to read and to understand the Old Testament which says, “Mercy is what pleases Me and not sacrifice.”  What does Jesus want to say to us about this today?

5) Concluding Prayer

Blessed are those who observe His instructions,
who seek Him with all their hearts,
and, doing no evil, who walk in His ways. (Ps 119:2-3)

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