SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 9:1-17 Call of Matthew
As Jesus passed on from there, 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 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 eat 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.”
ME, ARE YOU CALLING ME?
REFLECTION
We are all called and commissioned at our Baptism to be disciples. I love this picture it is like Matthew is saying, “Who Me? Yes, you and yes, us. Jesus says, “Come follow me. Do we follow Jesus as quickly as Matthew?
Jesus told those Pharisees, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.” All the boasting about fasting and keeping the law does not equal mercy. “Do not judge lest you be judged in the manner you judge. We must show mercy and compassion to everyone we meet even those we may deem not worthy.
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 9:27-38 the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
SEND LABORERS INTO THE FIELDS
REFLECTION
So much to do, so few to do it. All are called to witness and to evangelize including us! We can do it in our homes, at our work, and where we recreate. Or are we afraid to speak Truth to power? Are we intimidated or embarrassed by others if we might find opposition to what we believe in our hearts and soul?
We must pray also for vocations to the priesthood. Sacraments are essential. It is the ordained in the Person of Christ that make the Sacraments possible. Jesus is expressed in a special way in the Sacraments on earth until we see Him face to face in the next life. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, let us pray for our shepherds on earth.
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 10:1-15 ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand
Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness….. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. 
REPENT AND BE SAVED
REFLECTION
Jesus sends out his disciples, “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead,……without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” What does this mean to us modern day disciples?
It calls us to proclaim Jesus is Lord and King of Heaven and Earth. The kingdom is present right now. We are saved! We participate now in the kingdom in the Mystical Body of Christ. We can share in divine life through the Sacraments a foreshadowing of what we will experience in the Beatific Vision in the next life. We don’t have to wait for death to see God. “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25
“As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you…….We can bring blessings and peace to everyone we meet when configured to Christ. But not all will receive it. Do not be discouraged move on and continue your witness in the name of Christ!
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 10:33-42 whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set a man ‘against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.’ “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT!
REFLECTION
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” This seems really weird for someone to say but this is JESUS and he is not weird. So what do we make of it? Well, if we are seeking in our life pride, power, fame, fortune, and pleasure for pleasure sake. If our life is filled with attachments in place of God? If we care only for ourselves in this life…what then…..isn’t that kind of life worth losing!
Clinging to that kind of life have consequences. See Matthew 25 Judgement of Nations …..‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink….. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then Jesus will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
Jesus, who is always offering Peace be with you throughout Scripture, especially after the Resurrection says in this passage He did not come to bring Peace. What is that about? Here peace refers to just going along with the world despite its dangerous temptations and consequences. Jesus has come to challenge us. Choose wisely!
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” We must not love anything or anybody above God! “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any other gods before me! FIRST COMMANDMENT