Today's Catholic Mass Readings & Gospel Reflection - Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Today's Catholic Mass Readings & Gospel Reflection - Thursday, September 21, 2023. Feast day of St Matthew. The apostle & evangelist September 21, 2023 FIRST READING : Ephesians 4: 1-7, 11-13 Brothers and sisters: a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 'striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: tone Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; Sone 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 of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. "And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. RESPONSORIAL PSALM : "Their message goes out through all the earth." GOSPEL : Matthew 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 the 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 eats 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." Reflection : "I DID NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS". The apostle Matthew is believed to be the author of the first Gospel, although it is possible that another Matthew could have written it. His name means "gift of the Lord."After healing a paralytic in Capernaum, Jesus calls Matthew to follow him. He responds immediately. He leaves his post as tax collector at the customs office. Matthew must have invited Jesus for a dinner in his house along with many tax collectors and sinners. This creates a reaction among the Pharisees who ask Jesus' disciples why their teacher eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners. They do not realize that his mission is to heal the sick, to show mercy, and to call sinners. He has come to forgive and to bring them back to God. Truly, Matthew is the gift of the Lord" to us, sinners. Can we always be gifts of God to others? Does our Church welcome sinners or hold them in contempt?