Friday 5 July 2024

Today is Friday 5 July, in the 13th week of Ordinary Time.

The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Come to Me’. As you prepare for prayer today, can you come to the Lord just as you are?

Are you tired, worn, and burned
Are you tired, worn out, and burned
Are you tired, worn down, and burned out?
Come to me
Come to me, come to me
I won’t lay anything heavy on you
Come to me, stay with me
Learn to live lightly




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.’

Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors were despised. They were outcasts, yet Jesus invited one of them into his inner circle. What does this tell you about his attitude towards people?

Matthew doesn’t hesitate. What courage, to drop everything, just like that, and start again! Is there anything in your life you would like to make a fresh start with, just like that?

Listen again, and this time try to picture the dinner with Jesus and the tax-collectors and the sinners, and outside, the Pharisees with their noses turned right up.

Jesus compares himself to a physician – to a doctor – here, come to bring health and healing to sinners. Imagine yourself sitting or standing before him now, and ask him for the health and healing that you need.

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.