Friday 7 July 2023

Today is Friday the 7th of July, in the 13th week of Ordinary time.

The Community of Taizé sing Christe Lux Mundi: ‘O Christ, light of the world, whoever follows you will have the light of life.’

Christe, lux mundi,
qui sequitur te,
habebit lumen vitae,
lumen vitae




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.’

Today’s reading focuses on Jesus calling Matthew the tax-collector to follow him and become his disciple.

As I hear Jesus say ‘Follow me’, what is stirring in me?

What things stop me from following Jesus more fully?

I name these things now before God.

I ask Jesus to help me embrace his call more deeply.

Jesus also says, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’.

As I listen to the passage again, I ponder how these words apply both to me and my community.

In these last moments of prayer, I give thanks for God’s compassion and mercy in my 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.