Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 21, 2024
Feast of St. Matthew, The Evangelist
21st September 2024 (Saturday)
Psalter: Proper
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Brethren: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling, to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 (R. 5a)
R/. Their sound goes forth through all the earth
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: To be called is no one’s merit but after being called how one makes oneself deserving is more meritorious
1. God’s grace is no one’s private prerogative but is open to all who respond. And once responded in docility and surrender, life changes into a new dignity. As we celebrate the feast of St Matthew, one of the Twelve, his call is an indicator and pathway for all of us in our own journey of discipleship.
2. God’s call and grace are gratuitous and not conditioned by our merit or demerit. No one can claim that he deserves God’s grace. It is a free gift and God chooses anyone and equips them with His own power.
3. God does not necessarily call the bright but He brightens those called; He does not necessarily call the strong, but strengthens those called; does not necessarily call the able but enables those called; does not necessarily call the noble, but ennobles those called; does not necessarily call the perfect, but perfects those called; does not necessarily call the holy, but sanctifies those called; does not necessarily call the powerful, but empowers those called; does not necessarily call the great, but makes great those called.
4. He stands by those called, accompanies them always, purifies them from their old self and old ways, dignifies them with a new status, and sanctifies them with His own Spirit. He entrusts them with His own mission which is to liberate and integrate the dehumanized humanity. He empowers them with His own light and strength and sustains all their efforts. He brings their life to fulfillment and thus glorifies them.
5. In the words of the first reading, this purpose of the call or the mission entrusted is “to build up the body of Christ, to attain the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.
6. However, all this is not God’s work alone. His call requires our response. His giving requires our receptivity. His action requires our cooperation.
7. God’s call always demands prompt listening, obedience to His summon, detachment from worldly gains, and a total commitment to Christ. And the greatest testimony of the quality of discipleship is an authentic life witness.
8. In the light of the first reading, this would imply, walking in a manner worthy of our calling, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Practice: We can be happy disciples if God never regrets having called us to follow Him. The greatest fulfillment and accomplishment of our consecrated life is that God is happy with us