The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to seek the guidance of the Spirit to be open to the call to use our talents to build gentleness, humility, and patience in the community in which we live.
The reading from Ephesians is a plea for Unity in the Body of Christ.
* [4:1–16] A general plea for unity in the church. Christians have been fashioned through the Spirit into a single harmonious religious community (one body, Eph 4:4, 12; cf. Eph 4:16), belonging to a single Lord (in contrast to the many gods of the pagan world), and by one way of salvation through faith, brought out especially by the significance of baptism (Eph 4:1–6; cf. Rom 6:1–11). But Christian unity is more than adherence to a common belief. It is manifested in the exalted Christ’s gifts to individuals to serve so as to make the community more Christlike (Eph 4:11–16). This teaching on Christ as the source of the gifts is introduced in Eph 4:8 by a citation of Ps 68:18, which depicts Yahweh triumphantly leading Israel to salvation in Jerusalem. It is here understood of Christ, ascending above all the heavens, the head of the church; through his redemptive death, resurrection, and ascension he has become the source of the church’s spiritual gifts. The “descent” of Christ (Eph 4:9–10) refers more probably to the incarnation (cf. Phil 2:6–8) than to Christ’s presence after his death in the world of the dead (cf. 1 Pt 3:19).
* [4:4–6] The “seven unities” (church, Spirit, hope; Lord, faith in Christ [Eph 1:13], baptism; one God) reflect the triune structure of later creeds in reverse. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 19 praises God’s Glory in Creation and the Law.
* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem.
* [19:4] No speech, no words: the regular functioning of the heavens and the alternation of day and night inform human beings without words of the creator’s power and wisdom. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew describes the Calling of Matthew.
* [9:9] A man named Matthew: Mark names this tax collector Levi (Mk 2:14). No such name appears in the four lists of the twelve who were the closest companions of Jesus (Mt 10:2–4; Mk 3:16–19; Lk 6:14–16; Acts 1:13 [eleven, because of the defection of Judas Iscariot]), whereas all four list a Matthew, designated in Mt 10:3 as “the tax collector.” The evangelist may have changed the “Levi” of his source to Matthew so that this man, whose call is given special notice, like that of the first four disciples (Mt 4:18–22), might be included among the twelve. Another reason for the change may be that the disciple Matthew was the source of traditions peculiar to the church for which the evangelist was writing.
* [9:10] His house: it is not clear whether his refers to Jesus or Matthew. Tax collectors: see note on Mt 5:46. Table association with such persons would cause ritual impurity.
* [9:11] Teacher: see note on Mt 8:19.
* [9:13] Go and learn…not sacrifice: Matthew adds the prophetic statement of Hos 6:6 to the Marcan account (see also Mt 12:7). If mercy is superior to the temple sacrifices, how much more to the laws of ritual impurity. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Ed Morse comments that we might see something of ourselves in those tax collectors, who were physically comfortable but spiritually needy. We might also see ourselves in the Pharisees, who sealed themselves off from those who needed God’s love the most. We would do well to ponder Jesus’ instruction to them: “Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”
Is this desire for mercy to be realized on a human level by showing mercy to others? Or is the desire for mercy satisfied by God’s own efforts to extend mercy to sinners like us? I think both senses of this desire for mercy are true, particularly if we take Paul’s instructions for worthy living to heart.
Lord, help us to ponder how we might show mercy. Help us to become vessels to transmit the grace we have received to others in humility, showing gratitude for your generous mercy. Thanks be to God. (Morse, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Matthew did not delay when called by Jesus,” 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."] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:9-13 comments that just as he did for Matthew, Jesus calls people before their lives are changed. As he told the Pharisees who objected that day, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).
So imagine Jesus passing by your home, classroom, or work site today. He stops and calls you to follow him. Don’t worry if you think you aren’t worthy to be his disciple; recommit yourself to him just as you are. Then trust that Jesus will give you all that you need to be his faithful follower.
“Jesus, I say yes to your call today.” (Meditation on Matthew 9:9-13, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the author of Ephesians calls for the community to live in gentleness, humility, and patience. The role of tax collector was seen by the Jewish community as collaboration with the occupying Romans. Jesus shared table fellowship with tax collectors even as the Pharisees feared contagion of sin in such encounters.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Franciscan scholar Ilia Delio, for whom compassion stems from knowing that we belong to one another. Delio stresses that compassion nourishes our interconnectedness with each other and the earth.
We must seek to unite—in all aspects of our lives—with one another and with the creatures of the earth. Such union calls us out of isolated existences into community. We must slow down, discover our essential relatedness, be patient and compassionate toward all living creatures, and realize that it is a shared planet with finite resources. We are called to see and love in solidarity with all creation. Only in this way can the earth enjoy justice and peace which means right, loving relations with the natural world of God’s good creation.
Compassion requires a depth of soul, a connectedness of soul to earth, an earthiness of person to person, and a flow of love from heart to heart. [2] (Rohr, 2023)
Got Questions?
The Alpha Group at Holy Trinity Parish in Lower Sackville invites us to join them as they explore our relationship to Christ in the small group presentations and discussions of the Alpha Course. This is a link to more information.
We are nudged by the Spirit to use the talents and gifts we have received to build up the community of followers of Christ.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/4?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?9
Meditation on Matthew 9:9-13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/21/788956/
Morse, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092123.html
Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?2
Rohr, R. (2023, September 21). Compassion through Connection — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/compassion-through-connection-2023-09-21/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Desire Mercy - Not Sacrifice. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 21, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep21a
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