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In our Gospel account of the call of Matthew we will find a sentence which shocks us to recognition. Jesus, aware that people resent His time spent with "tax-collectors and sinner", says to them: "What I want is mercy, not sacrifice". Mercy is a word which throbs at the heart of the bible. We apply it to God, to Christ. We have no single word in English to translate its resonant call. St Paul, in our epistle gives a useful definition. "Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience". Matthew, up to this moment, had never known such "mercy". In its place he had met hatred, anger, threats. When Christ called him the veils lifted from his bruised spirit. There are Matthews sitting in the despised custom houses of our lives. They await the mercy of our thoughts and actions. They await the believer who in "complete selflessness, gentleness and patience" will call them to the merciful Church of a merciful God. Lord, help me to show mercy to others. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
| INTENTION : |
That the adolescents and young people of the third millennium
may discover a profound ideal to devote themselves to. |
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"Lord Jesus, you have made these young people your friends; keep them
for ever close to you! Amen." This closing prayer of John Paul II at the
Mass in Korazim in the Holy Land last year indicates the deep concern
he has for the youth of the third millennium. At the Mount of Beatitudes, the Holy Father looked down on the assembled youth and said, "How may generations before us have been deeply moved by the Sermon on the Mount! How many young people down the centuries have gathered around Jesus to learn the words of eternal life, as you are gathered here today! It is wonderful that you are here!" The ideal the Holy Father proposes to the youth of today is that they look at Jesus, who embodies the Beatitudes. They will see what it means to be poor in spirit, gentle and merciful, to mourn, to care for what is right, to be pure in heart, to make peace, to be persecuted. He challenges them to go out into the world and preach the message of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes which speak of truth and goodness, and grace and freedom: of all that is necessary to enter Christ's Kingdom. Now it is their turn to be courageous apostles of that kingdom. | |
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