“I DID NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS BUT SINNERS.” MK 2:13-17
Humbly submit your will to God (thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Prayer Prompt before reading MK 2:13-17: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father and God the Son are so that I may know who I am.
Today, Jesus reminds us the reason he was Anointed, or His mission (the Catholic Church’s today/ours), to save us from sin. Which one of us is not a sinner? We are all in the same category in God’s eyes. His love and mercy are infinite. Those who are baptized, repent and try to change their life by dying to self/our ego and putting on Christ each day are saved. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today that “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners”.
No matter how many bad decisions we make or times we sin, God is the Father of the story in the Prodigal Son. How can we allow this love and mercy to stop with us? We are called to go to the face of Jesus and to those who have made the worst mistakes and give them hope. One obstacle to this is that people who need help do not want it or will not accept it. We are called to continue to bring hope to those who will accept it. This is a difficult journey, but one filled with joy when one person turns back to hope, forgiveness, and God’s grace!
Pope Francis’s main mission as pope has been to get the Catholic Church back into the streets where Jesus started it. ”I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been on the streets rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”. When is the last time you have seen the face of Jesus Christ in the homeless? More importantly, when is the last time you forgave someone in your home?
Jesus is calling you to “follow me” into the streets to the least of the people among us. It starts by helping those in our homes and parishes, but extends to those in our community. There is such a need. Jesus ate with public sinners like tax collectors and prostitutes and cured the lepers who were banned from the towns. He pioneered taking care of the orphans and widows.
He cast out demons, spoke the Father’s love to the drunks, those who lived in the cycle of poverty, and the rich were distracted by material goods. It is time to get uncomfortable for Christ. Die to self, put on Christ and experience joy like you never have before. In reality, being present to the people right next to you that God put into your life is loving them. Give someone your time and support!
Today’s challenge: Find the hardest, dirtiest, worst section of your Stewardship form and sign up. Get out there and start helping those who are in need the most as Christ has done for you as a sinner.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; We will live again!)
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