Friday 2 July 2021

Today is Friday the 2 July, in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time.

The Choir of the King’s Consort sing Henry Purcell’s Hear My Prayer, O Lord: “Hear My Prayer, O Lord, and let my crying come unto thee.”  As I listen, I too bring my prayer, my needs and my longings, the deepest feelings of my heart, before the Lord.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew, 9:9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.  And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"  But when he heard this, 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, not sacrifice.’  For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

Can you imagine Jesus walking towards you? Would you want Him to say to you, “Follow me”? If not, where or to what are you afraid He might lead you?

Who are “the tax collectors and sinners” that you would be surprised to see Jesus at home with at table? Hear Jesus say ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’. Mercy for you; Mercy for others…

As you listen to the reading again, ask yourself, ‘how much am I conscious of my need of Jesus, the doctor, the healer’?

In these last few moments, tell Jesus what most needs healing in your life.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.