Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Daily HOMILY for September 21, 2019: Feast of St. Matthew, Cycle C

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Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Friday, September 21, 2019

Jesus House

THE CALLING OF MATTHEW ++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  The Gospel for today speaks of Matthew’s call from what was then a dishonorable job.
Ø  Matthew was a Jew, collecting taxes for the Romans from his fellow Jews and probably adding substantial surcharges to the real tax for his own profit
Ø  He was viewed as a sinner, a sinful person, taking advantage of his own people
Ø  And yet, Jesus calls him to be an Apostle
Ø  Jesus says, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners”
WE’RE ALL SINNERS MADE RIGHTEOUS +++++++++++
Ø  Jesus’ point is that it is necessary for us to recognize that none of us is righteous and all of us are sinners
Ø  From a theological perspective, we say that we have been made righteous by Jesus
Ø  What this means is that we have been placed into a right or good relationship with God by J
Ø  Doesn’t mean we’re free of sin and shortcomings
Ø  In fact, being righteous, in the sense we are using it, is a gift from God
Ø  It is a gift given on only one condition that we recognize that we are not righteous, that we are sinful and that we need God’s grace
THE BEGINNING OF MASS ++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  It’s why we begin Mass with a recognition of our sins and failings and our need for forgiveness
Ø  This Penitential Act is not just a remnant of a past age when people were too guilt ridden
Ø  And it is not intended to begin Mass on a downer
Ø  It offers us a touch of realism, as we approach God and receive Jesus in the Eucharist.
Ø  It’s intended 2 lead us 2 a bit more self- knowledge & 2 remind us to look within
Ø  It is intended to help us admit our own humanity and need for growth, especially when we might be tempted to call others sinners, as Matthew’s fellow Jews were calling him today
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