The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friends in Christ,

Saint Matthew is known to us principally as an Evangelist. He was the first to put down in writing Our Lord's teaching and the account of His life. His Gospel was written in Aramaic, the language that Our Lord Himself spoke. Saint Matthew's name occurs among the Apostles in the Canon of the Mass.

In today's Gospel reading (Saint Matthew 9:9-13), Jesus calls Saint Matthew to be one of His disciples. At that time, Saint Matthew was a publican, that is, a tax-collector for the Romans. His profession was hateful to the Jews because it reminded them of their subjection; the publican, also, was regarded by the Pharisees as the typical sinner. Jesus let none of this stand in His way; in the Gospel, it emerges clearly how, with kindness and magnanimity, He carried out His mission as Savior of humanity.

When Jesus and His disciples sat down to eat, many publicans and sinners came and joined them. The Pharisees questioned Jesus' disciples: "Why does your Master eat with Publicans and sinners?" Jesus answered them: "They that are in health need not a physician; but they that are ill. Go then, and learn what this means: 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.' (Osee 6:6) For I am not come to call the just, but the sinners."

Our fallen nature tends to extremes rather than moderation. Some people want to believe that Jesus accepts sinners just as they are, and therefore, we do not need to change or even try to change. Hence, we see heretics like Martin Luther suggest that we "Sin on boldly but believe even more boldly in Christ." Then we see the other extreme in the Pharisees in today's Gospel reading, who would have nothing to do with sinners. They would sacrifice human relationships and ties rather than have anything to do with those who were deemed sinners.

As Catholics, we need to remember that all have sinned in Adam, and therefore we are all sinners. There are no truly just men on earth. Even the just must acknowledge that their justice is a merciful gift from God rather than something they have intrinsically in themselves. It is through the mercy of God that Jesus came to this world to teach us and show us the way to spiritual justice, health, and life. God desires our salvation through His mercy. He does not seek the sacrifice of our eternal souls in condemnation and eternal loss, which would be truly just.

The mercy of God lifts the sinner from death to life, rather than seeking the sacrifice of their eternal souls as a just punishment for their sins. We are reminded that Jesus always sought to forgive sins, even when people only sought the cure of their bodies. This forgiveness of sins is not a clean slate so that we can continue in sins. Jesus says: "Go and sin no more…" The life and health of our souls are intimately connected to the correction and discipline of our bodies. Our physical bodies need to be brought into conformity with the will of God.

If we want eternal happiness, we must love God with our whole being and our neighbors as we love ourselves. If we truly love God, we are repentant of all our offences (sins) against Him. If we are truly repentant, we do all we can to avoid ever offending Him again, and we seek to make amends for our previous sins through good works and penance (self-denial and sacrifices). In short, if we love God, we seek to be His disciples, hearing Him, following Him, and imitating Him. This is precisely what He says to each of us: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father, with His angels; and then will He render to every man according to his works." (Saint Matthew 16:24-27)

The moderation or modesty that we should seek in our relationships with others in this world needs to be distant enough to keep us from becoming drawn back into sin with them, but yet intimate enough so that we may inspire and help to bring them to the true love of God, repentance for sins, amendment of life, true discipleship with Jesus, and eternal life.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!

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