Matthew: a man gifted to give

Gospel text Matthew 9, 9-13

As Jesus moved on, He saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and He said to him, «Follow me». And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, that while Jesus was at the table in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, «Why is it that your master eats with those 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».

The Mother Church celebrates the Feast of Matthew, a disciple of Jesus and an Evangelist of His Word. Matthew presents Jesus as a teacher, who teaches about the kingdom of God on the Earth. That is why we find in his Gospel the five discourses that include the discourse of the Beatitudes, the famous one. Today we shall see better the three learnings from the life and call of Matthew. 

1. Have you ever heard Matthew’s other name ‘Levi’? It was the ancient Publican's name which means originally ‘to take’ or ‘to be bonded’. Both Mark and Luke use his original name ‘Levi’ to denote Matthew. But Matthew prefers to call himself 'Matthew', a new common name which in Hebrew (mattija) means, “the gift of the Lord”. Matthew does not want to take rather he wants to "give/contribute his life/words to Jesus, to the Church and to the people". He is no more Levi, when Jesus sees him, because according to Matthew, his conversion has started already there. 

2. Luke adds in his Gospel, “He left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him” (Luke 5:28). He wants to leave everything for the sake of Jesus. Attention! For any Jewish tax collector, leaving everything is not a mere act of sacrifice. Usually, Jewish tax collectors were extraordinarily rich people. And so, they were disdained by the common people because they were working for the hated Romans collecting taxes for customs or tolls on imports, exports, and merchants. “He left away” signifies more for Luke, because there were a number of things to leave; wife, children, kith and kin, property and name. Be happy to lose for Jesus. He gained one thing; the vision of Jesus. 

3. Matthew invites Jesus to his table. The first preaching in Matthew’s Gospel starts here. He invites Jesus for a dinner. Food is the sign of a relationship. Matthew’s courageous initiative is to present Jesus to his people, friends and kith and kin. Only two people introduced Jesus to his family and friends. Later in his gospel, he writes, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … (Matthew 28:16) Be courageous to share Jesus with yours.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of the Evangelist and his Gospel. Send us your Spirit to Contemplate You through his gospel. Amen.

Jesus and Women (Lk 8:1-3)

Gospel text (Lk 8,1-3): Jesus walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve followed him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had been freed of seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Suzanna and others who provided for them out of their own funds.

Evangelist Luke records a new, unique and important information in the ministry of the Lord. The other Evangelists have rarely noticed this. Jesus went through many towns preaching the good news with the twelve disciples. Along with the men disciples, there were also some women.(they too were sinful and sick but healed by Jesus). How is this possible within the Jewish context in the first century?

This Lucan addition gives us three lessons; 

1. We need others in our life and ministry: 

Jesus did not want to build the kingdom of God alone (Even if it was possible for Him). Jesus knew to walk with others, men and women who were capable of receiving the healing from him. This is an important aspect in building the kingdom of God. Church is not the 'One man army'. "To see things in this way brings the joyful realization that not one people, culture, or individual can achieve everything on its own; to attain fulfilment in life we need others". (Encyclical Fratelli tutti (All Brothers) of the Holy Father Francis)

2. Reservation not 32, but 50:

Luke's Gospel prominently speaks about the equality of men and women. From the beginning of the birth stories of the Gospel until the resurrection of Jesus, there is an intentional inclusion of women alongside men. There are many researches on 'gender equality in Luke's gospel'; Elizabeth and Mary along with Zechariah and Joseph were also functioning as independent agents of God in the narratives. Simeon and Anna, participation of women in the public ministry of Jesus, women at the burial of Jesus. There are also parables with the characters of men and women; Shepherd searching for his sheep and a woman searching for a coin. The society needs the participation of women to have integral construction. (compare to the Taliban who ban sports and seats in election for Afghan women) 

3. Man or women can share according to their state of life. It is possible only through their personal relationship with Jesus. Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene and any other women of the Gospel had cherished beautiful and rich relationship with Jesus. We become successful men and women because of the grace, the call Jesus that has granted to each one of us according to our gifts.

To forgive without judging (Lk 7:36-50)

Luke's page of an adulterous woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears reveals the theme of Forgiveness. The Lord rewards her who looked only at the mercy of Jesus, «Your sins are forgiven» (Lk 7:48). Usually in any of the Jewish feasts where the public people gather, the participation of women is not encouraged. Here the woman is the prostitute. The Gospel says the people knew what type of woman was touching Jesus. The prostitute could not appear in the public gatherings. God's mercy is boundless. God's compassion is measureless and makes Him wait for the conversion of sinners. 

There are two things we Christians have to remember: we have to forgive without judging the person and we have to love a lot, for we are forgiven by God freely. It is like a double movement: the forgiveness received and the loving forgiveness to grant.

Let us especially wonder today whether we realize how great God's forgiveness is, if we are those who love the person and fight the sin and, finally, if we attend with confidence to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. With the help of God we can do anything. May our humble prayer help us too.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Gospel Reflection on 15th Sep 2021

These Seven Sorrows should not be confused with the five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. The Seven Sorrows of Mary are a popular Roman Catholic devotion. Mater Dolorosa, it is also a key subject for Marian art in the Catholic Church. In common religious Catholic imagery, the Virgin Mary is portrayed sorrowful and in tears, with one or seven long knives or daggers piercing her heart, often bleeding. Mary received painful sorrows in the seven events of her life with Jesus. 

Seven sorrows 

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem
4. Mary's meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa 
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary
6. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.
7. The Burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea

Mary surrounded by the Seven Sorrows; in 1232, seven youths in Tuscany founded the Servite Order whose patron was our Lady of Sorrows (also known as "Order of the Servants of Mary"). Five years later, they took up the sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order.

Three things to learn from today's Feast

1. Suffering is a reality:

Suffering is a day to day reality of this world. No one is exceptional in this world. From the Country's president to the poor man of your street, everyone has to encounter suffering. It is just a memory in the reality. You never think of a tooth or finger in your life, unless there is pain. Every human being experiences it at any stage of life. Simeon told the blessed Mother, Even though you are the Mother of God, you will receive suffering. In Genesis, suffering entered into the world through sin. First parents committed sin against God. that is why they suffered. Suffering is reserved to the sinners. In NT, Suffering is a Mission, to be accomplished. 

2. Suffering is a mission:

It is a significant part of your life, for what you came to be. If you do not take up the cross, you cannot follow me. says Jesus. Buddha's statue seems to be calm, tranquil and serene. Jesus on the Cross is humiliated, ashamed, disturbing and nude. Some buddhists question how can the christians worship an unserene God. Buddha said desire is a root for suffering. So omit suffering. No! For us it is the mission to be accomplished. For Jesus, Mary and Joseph God has assigned the sufferings.

3. Suffering is a mystery:  

You cannot score the marks immediately, go for the class, study and appear  at the exams. Wait! We do not know the answer to the death. Mary treasured everything in the heart without lamenting to anyone. She did not search for the immediate answers. She communicated to God and waited patiently for his mysterious revelation. She understood the pain of others in silence (eg. wedding at Cana). 

Today, we miss from the tracks of our life, keeping away the suffering elements of our life. We pray to the Mother Mary to accompany us when we face difficult situations in our life.