GOSPEL - Mt 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.”
O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because of Thy just punishments, but most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
Thursday is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament
STUDY - An excerpt from Link to Liturgy Lesson Confronting Sin
We are all like St. Matthew, holding on to our sin, our life, our will. Fr. Jim Grummer gives a very short explanation of this masterpiece by Caravaggio. Jesus’s finger, which points at St. Matthew and at us looks very much like the finger of God reaching out to Adam, the creature God just created. Christ finger pointing at us is an acknowledgment of our sin, but also the chance to be reconciled, to follow Him, and thus be a new creation. Zacchaeus and Saint Matthew both were not worthy that Jesus would come under their roof, but yet Jesus did enter under their roof because of His great mercy and their penitent hearts. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we come with penitent hearts and declare to our Lord, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” [1] Jesus not only dines with us, but feeds us with His very Body and Blood.“The Calling of St. Matthew” by Caravaggio is one of Pope Francis’s favorite paintings. He recently commented on the painting. ““That finger of Jesus, pointing at Matthew. That’s me. I feel like him. Like Matthew.” Here the pope becomes determined, as if he had finally found the image he was looking for: “It is the gesture of Matthew that strikes me: he holds on to his money as if to say, ‘No, not me! No, this money is mine.’ Here, this is me, a sinner on whom the Lord has turned his gaze.” [2]
[1] The Order of the Mass; The Communion Rite
[2] Antonio Spadaro, S.J.; A Big Heart Open to God
[2] Antonio Spadaro, S.J.; A Big Heart Open to God
