Maturing to mercy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for the Feast of St. Matthew, today, explore the process of moving from our recognition of a call from God to becoming a mature community bringing our gifts to the Body of Christ.

Invited to the table

The author of the Letter to the Ephesians appeals for unity in the Body.

* [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).

The calling of Matthew in the Gospel of Matthew underlines the need to seek acting with mercy as we mature in our faith.

* [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.

Larry Hopp reflects on the challenges in meeting our calling.

Jesus teaches us how to deal with people that can be hard to love.  Matthew was a corrupt tax collector. Could anyone love and extend grace to someone who routinely cheated poor families out of their resources – the resources they so desperately needed for their very existence.  Yet Jesus met Matthew, knowing full well who and what he was, and went to his house that very day for dinner, dinner with all his fellow tax collectors and sinners. If that example of how to respond to fellow sinners were not enough, Jesus powerfully explained his actions “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.

Pastor Jeremy Vaccaro, of Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, preaches that to be a community of worship means that together and individually we are growing in our love and acknowledgement of God.

The Pharisees were zealous about obeying the Law of God completely.  They even made up rules that kept them from getting close to breaking the rules that God had given His people.  Yet, they were missing the point! Their worship was empty. God wanted their love; God wanted relationship; God wanted them to acknowledge Him, to know Him.  And God wanted that to be lived out in the Pharisees’ leadership of the people of God. To be a community of worship means that together and individually we are growing in our love and acknowledgement of God.  Hosea’s Israel was missing it. The Pharisees were missing it

Don Schwager quotes John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, who 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."

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 9:9-13 observes that it can be easy to buy into the lie that we are unworthy to answer Jesus’ call. Don’t believe it! Don’t imagine that our sins or weaknesses have convinced Jesus to pass us by in favor of a more worthy candidate. Remember what he said to the people who objected to his calling of Matthew: “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). We are all sinners, and still, Jesus calls all of us: “Follow me” (9:9). He wants us to be with him.

So don’t let your sins and failings hinder your yes to the Lord. Quite the opposite—they are the perfect opportunity to show the world how merciful he is. Tradition tells us that Matthew went on to evangelize the very Jews he had once scandalized. The evidence of his change of heart must have made a deep impression on many of them.

Friar Jude Winkler recognizes the call to live in the unity of the Holy Spirit in the Letter to the Ephesians. We all have a role in this Church and we have received charisms for the benefit of the community. Friar Jude notes the attitude of the Pharisees that sin is a contagion. Even though sinfulness has alienated the tax collectors from the community, Jesus invites them to table fellowship and calls us into his love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, observes that many people naturally grow into nondual consciousness through great suffering or great love. He cites Howard Thurman and Barbara A. Holmes on contemplative gifts of the Africana tradition or Black church.

As unlikely as it may seem, the contemplative moment can be found at the very center of such ontological crises . . . during the Middle Passage in the holds of slave ships . . . auction blocks . . . and the . . . hush arbors [where slaves worshipped in secret]. Each event is experienced by individuals stunned into multiple realities by shock, journey, and displacement. . . . In the words of Howard Thurman, “when all hope for release in the world seems unrealistic and groundless, the heart turns to a way of escape beyond the present order.” [1] For captured Africans, there was no safety except in common cause and the development of internal and spiritual fortitude. . . .

Jesus declares His role as physician to us who need healing and restoration as members of communities that bring life to the body of Christ. Our experiences of deep love and deep suffering are often the stage of our development when we hear His call to “Follow Me”.

References


(n.d.). Ephesians chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/4
(n.d.). Matthew chapter 9 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved September 21, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Priority One Mercy Not Sacrifice Hosea 616 PDF Free Download. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from https://zapdoc.tips/priority-one-mercy-not-sacrifice-hosea-61-6.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 21, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/