GOSPEL

July 6, 2018 (Friday) 13th Week in Ordinary Time St. Maria Goretti, virgin & martyr Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/Red) Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131 One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 1st Reading: Am8:4-6, 9-12

Gospel: Mt 9:9-13

As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew, at his seat in the customhouse; and he said to him, “Follow me!” And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax col- lectors and sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why is it, that your master eats with sinners and tax collectors?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go, and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection:

What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. Pope Francis’ papal motto, “miserando atque eligendo” is based on St. Bede’s homily on the feast day of St. Matthew. St. Bede writes that upon seeing him with compassion, Jesus calls Matthew to follow him.

God’s mercy is the central theme of Pope Francis’ papacy. In Evangelii Gaudium he articu- lated his vision for the Church, that it be a place “where mercy is freely given.” Elsewhere he explains that mercy is the very definition of God. Though the Jubilee Year of Mercy is over, we pray we all witness to God’s mercy. As Christians, may mercy be our name.