July 5, 2019 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

2019년 7월 5일 연중 제13주간 금요일 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서

창세기 23,1-4.19; 24,1-8.62-67
1 사라는 백이십칠 년을 살았다. 이것이 사라가 산 햇수이다. 2 사라는 가나안 땅 키르얏 아르바 곧 헤브론에서 죽었다. 아브라함은 빈소에 들어가 사라의 죽음을 애도하며 슬피 울었다.
3 그런 다음 아브라함은 죽은 아내 앞에서 물러 나와 히타이트 사람들에게 가서 말하였다. 4 “나는 이방인이며 거류민으로 여러분 곁에 살고 있습니다. 죽은 내 아내를 내어다 안장할 수 있게, 여러분 곁에 있는 묘지를 양도해 주십시오.” 19 아브라함은 가나안 땅 마므레, 곧 헤브론 맞은쪽 막펠라 밭에 있는 동굴에 자기 아내 사라를 안장하였다.
24,1 아브라함은 이제 늙고 나이가 무척 많았다. 주님께서는 모든 일마다 아브라함에게 복을 내려 주셨다.
2 아브라함은 자기의 모든 재산을 맡아보는, 집안의 가장 늙은 종에게 말하였다. “네 손을 내 샅에 넣어라. 3 나는 네가 하늘의 하느님이시며 땅의 하느님이신 주님을 두고 맹세하게 하겠다. 내가 살고 있는 이곳 가나안족의 딸들 가운데에서 내 아들의 아내가 될 여자를 데려오지 않고, 4 내 고향, 내 친족에게 가서 내 아들 이사악의 아내가 될 여자를 데려오겠다고 하여라.”
5 그 종이 아브라함에게 물었다. “그 여자가 저를 따라 이 땅으로 오려고 하지 않을지도 모릅니다. 제가 아드님을 나리께서 떠나오신 그 땅으로 데려가야 합니까?”
6 그러자 아브라함이 그에게 대답하였다. “너는 내 아들을 그곳으로 데려가는 일이 없도록 조심하여라. 7 하늘의 하느님이신 주님, 곧 나를 아버지의 집과 내 본고장에서 데려오시고, ‘내가 네 후손에게 이 땅을 주겠다.’고 나에게 말씀하시며 맹세하신 그분께서 당신 천사를 네 앞에 보내시어, 네가 그곳에서 내 아들의 아내가 될 여자를 데려올 수 있게 해 주실 것이다.
8 그 여자가 너를 따라오려고 하지 않으면, 너는 나에게 한 맹세에서 풀리게 된다. 다만 내 아들만은 그곳으로 데려가서는 안 된다.”
[세월이 흘러] 62 이사악은 브에르 라하이 로이를 떠나, 네겝 땅에 살고 있었다. 63 저녁 무렵 이사악이 들에 바람을 쐬러 나갔다가 눈을 들어 보니, 낙타 떼가 오고 있었다.
64 레베카도 눈을 들어 이사악을 보고서는 얼른 낙타에서 내려, 65 그 종에게 물었다. “들을 가로질러 우리 쪽으로 오는 저 남자는 누구입니까?” 그 종이 “그분은 나의 주인입니다.” 하고 대답하자, 레베카는 너울을 꺼내어 얼굴을 가렸다.
66 그 종은 이사악에게 자기가 한 모든 일을 이야기하였다. 67 이사악은 레베카를 자기 어머니 사라의 천막으로 데리고 들어가서, 그를 아내로 맞아들였다. 이사악은 레베카를 사랑하였다. 이로써 이사악은 어머니를 여읜 뒤에 위로를 받게 되었다.
 

 복음

 마태오 9,9-13
그때에 9 예수님께서 길을 가시다가 마태오라는 사람이 세관에 앉아 있는 것을 보시고 말씀하셨다. “나를 따라라.” 그러자 마태오는 일어나 그분을 따랐다. 
10 예수님께서 집에서 식탁에 앉게 되셨는데, 마침 많은 세리와 죄인도 와서 예수님과 그분의 제자들과 자리를 함께하였다. 
11 그것을 본 바리사이들이 그분의 제자들에게 말하였다. “당신네 스승은 어째서 세리와 죄인들과 함께 음식을 먹는 것이오?” 
12 예수님께서 이 말을 들으시고 그들에게 말씀하셨다. “튼튼한 이들에게는 의사가 필요하지 않으나 병든 이들에게는 필요하다. 13 너희는 가서 ‘내가 바라는 것은 희생 제물이 아니라 자비다.’ 하신 말씀이 무슨 뜻인지 배워라. 사실 나는 의인이 아니라 죄인을 부르러 왔다.”

July 5, 2019

 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

Reading 1
Gn 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67
The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
“Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife.”

After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
“Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac.”
The servant asked him:
“What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?”
“Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him.
“The LORD, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
‘I will give this land to your descendants’–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!”

A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
“Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?”
“That is my master,” replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil.

The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. 
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 

Gospel
Mt 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“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.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” 

http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow

 «Follow me»

+ Fr. Pere CAMPANYÀ i Ribó
(Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Gospel speaks to us of a vocation, that of Matthew the publican. Jesus is preparing a small group of disciples that would continue his work of Salvation. And He chooses whom He wants: whether fishermen or from humble professions. He even calls to follow him, a tax collector, a highly abhorred role by the Jews —who considered themselves as perfect Law-abiding citizens—, because they saw it as tantamount to having a sinful life, as they collected taxes in the name of the roman governor, whom they did not want to submit to.

It suffices with Jesus beckoning him to his service: «Follow me» (Mt 9:9). A single word by the Master, and Matthew leaves his profession and, happily, invites him to his home to celebrate with a joyous dinner. It was only natural that Matthew had a group of good friends, of the same “professional guild”, to join him at his table. But, according to the Pharisees, all that kind of people were confirmed sinners publicly recognized as such.

The Pharisees could not therefore silence it and they comment with some of Jesus' disciples: «Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?» (Mt 9:10). Jesus' answer is immediate: «Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do» (Mt 9:12). The comparison is perfect: «I did not come to call the righteous but sinners» (Mt 9:13).

These words of the Gospel are topical. Jesus keeps on inviting us to follow him, each one of us according to his condition and profession. And, more often than not, to follow Jesus means to leave behind some messy passions, or some poor family relationships, or just a waste of time, to allot some moments to prayer, to the Eucharist feast or to some missionary pastoral care. In other words «no Christian ought to think of him as his own master, for he is submitted to God's service» (St. Ignatius of Antioch).

Jesus is, indeed, asking me to change my life, so I wonder: which group do I belong to, to the perfect persons or to those who sincerely accept they can dramatically improve? For I can improve, can't I?

http:/onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 

The Gospel reading from Matthew has perplexed me at times. Proverbs 13:20 says, Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. And the great Booker T. Washington is quoted as saying, Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than to be in bad company. ButMatthew turns these thoughts completely around when he writes of Jesus, who openly sat at table with lowly tax collectors, the sick and sinners, rather than with the Pharisees.

So how can these seeming contradictions be explained?

To start with, who is to say that the tax collectors, sick and sinners Jesus sat with were fools or not of good quality? It appears that the Pharisees made their judgment of who Jesus was associating with based on his guests’ occupations or outward appearances. The Pharisees viewed them through the lens of exclusivity, versus Jesus’ lens of inclusivity.

So how do we view others?

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to wear the lens of exclusivity and make judgments based upon someone’s appearance, the color of their skin, their political affiliation, the car they drive or the religion they practice. Sadly, I think even people who are not openly prejudiced let prejudicial thoughts creep into their minds, the so-called “unconscious bias effect.” Unfortunately for some, the motto “Guilty until proven otherwise” controls how they view others.

Last Sunday my wife and I attended Mass at a small church in South Dakota. In the front row sat four first communicants, their families in the rows behind them. The four children and their families were the only Latinos in the church. The three girls had on pretty white dresses and the boy a blue suit. Their parents and friends were the best dressed in church. After church, my wife and I talked about the children and wondered how they might be treated in this small town. For all we knew, they could be fourth-generation Americans like many of us, but with the immigration controversy swirling on our southern border, were they instead viewed differently because of the color of their skin and the news we hear?  We wondered what lens the people of this small town used when seeing others who were not like them.

We have an innate tendency to be attracted to those who are like us and to view those who are different with caution. But, just because we have this tendency doesn’t mean we have to use it.

So how can we work to rid ourselves of unconscious bias and see the world through the lens of inclusivity, like Jesus?

We can pray for the strength to challenge ourselves to be more like Jesus and to reach out to those who may be different than us. Through daily prayer, we will be reminded to challenge our assumptions about who we think a person is when we truly don’t know. We can open our hearts to seeing God at work in those we encounter. Through prayer and reflection we will gain the strength to challenge our friends and family who may express prejudices about someone they likely do not even know.

Ignatius instructed the early Jesuits to “go out and find God who is present in all things,” and this remains a cornerstone of their spirituality. To some, the phrase, “present in all things” means that God is everywhere and in everything, but more importantly, God is present in everyone – even the tax collectors, the sick and the sinners. God is present in those who are different from us. We just need to look a little closer to see him in their faces and hearts.

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

NO TURNING BACK

"Never take my son back there!" �Genesis 24:8

Abraham insisted that Isaac never go back to Abraham's ancestral place of origin, the land of the Chaldeans. That was a place of pagan religion. Abraham, who had left that land to follow the call of God, knew that going back to his lifestyle before God called him might mean permanently turning away from God. We live in a culture of death. Temptations in the secular culture abound, and the pressure to "fall away from [our] sincere and complete devotion to Christ" may overcome us (2 Cor 11:3). Perhaps we have a sinful place in our own history. It may involve sexual sin, alcohol, drugs, domestic abuse and violence, infidelity, gambling, rebellion, atheism, contraception, etc. These places and friendships could instantly pressure us to return to that old lifestyle. We turned our back on that lifestyle when we turned to the Lord Jesus (see Eph 5:3-4). Like Abraham, when the temptation to go back to that place presents itself, we must say, "I will never go back there!" When the Lord calls us to something, He likewise calls us away from something else. St. Matthew in today's Gospel is our model. When Jesus called him, he "got up and followed Him" (Mt 9:9). Matthew never once turned back, and now reigns in glory with the Lord. With Matthew, follow Jesus, put your hands to the plow, and never look back (Lk 9:62).

Prayer: Jesus, "though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back."

Promise: "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." —Mt 9:13

Praise: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria became a medical doctor to aid in physical healing. He was later ordained a priest and became a conduit of spiritual healing.

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 "I desire mercy - not sacrifice"

What is God's call on your life? Jesus chose Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew was religious or learned, popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none of those. He chose to live a life of wealth and ease. His profession was probably the most corrupted and despised by everyone because tax collectors made themselves wealthy by over-charging and threatening people if they did not hand over their money to them.

God searches our heart
What did Jesus see in Matthew that others did not see? When the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the future heir to the throne of Israel, he bypassed all the first seven sons and chose the last! "God looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man" he declared (1 Samuel 16:7). David's heart was like a compass looking for true north - it pointed to God. Matthew's heart must have yearned for God, even though he dare not show his face in a synagogue - the Jewish house of prayer and the study of Torah - God's law. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax office - no doubt counting his day's profit - Jesus spoke only two words - "follow me". Those two words changed Matthew from a self-serving profiteer to a God-serving apostle who would bring the treasures of God's kingdom to the poor and needy.

John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, 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."

Jesus- the divine physician
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus' defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to visit healthy people - instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didn't want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came  not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

On more than one occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Do you thank the Lord Jesus for the great mercy he has shown to you?  And do you show mercy to your neighbor as well?

"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself." (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)

Psalm 119:2,10,20,30,40,131

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set your ordinances before me.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Matthew did not delay when called by Jesus, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)

"The Lord, about to give salvation to all sinners believing in him, willingly chose Matthew the former publican. The gift of his esteem for Matthew stands as an example for our salvation. Every sinner must be chosen by God and can receive the grace of eternal salvation if one is not without a religious mind and a devout heart. So Matthew was chosen willingly by God. And though he is immersed in worldly affairs, because of his sincere religious devotion he is judged worthy to be called forth by the Lord ("Follow me"), who by virtue of his divine nature knows the hidden recesses of the heart. From what follows, we know that Matthew was accepted by the Lord not by reason of his status but of his faith and devotion. As soon as the Lord says to him, "Follow me," he does not linger or delay, but thereupon "he arose and followed him." (excerpt from TRACTATE on MATTHEW 45.1)

  

More Homilies

July 7, 2017 Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time