21 September Catholic Mass Daily Bible Reading. USCCB. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9,9-13. As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He …More
21 September Catholic Mass Daily Bible Reading.
USCCB. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9,9-13.
As Jesus passed by, 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."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Rupert of Deutz (c.1075-1130)
Benedictine monk
Works of the Holy Spirit, IV, 14 (trans. SC 165, p. 183 rev.)
A publican set free for the Kingdom of God
Matthew the publican received “the bread of life and understanding” as food (Sir 15:3) and, out of this same understanding, held a great banquet in his house for our Lord Jesus, for he had received a plentiful share of grace in conformity with his name [which means “gift of God”]. A foretaste of this feast of grace had been prepared by God. Called while he was still seated at his customs post, “he followed the Lord and gave a great banquet for him in his house” (Lk 5:29). Thus he held a banquet, and a splendid one - a royal banquet, as we might say.
Indeed, Matthew is the evangelist who shows us Christ as king through his family line and through his deeds. At the very beginning of his work he announces: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David” (Mt 1:1). Then he describes how the newborn child was worshipped by the Magi under the title 'king of the Jews' and then, having woven together all the rest of his story with signs of royalty and parables of the Kingdom, he brings it to an end with words spoken by a king already crowned with the glory of his resurrection: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (28:18). If you examine his whole composition carefully, then, you will acknowledge that it displays throughout the mysteries of God's Kingdom. Nothing surprising about this: Matthew had been a publican; he bore in mind how he had been called from public service of the kingdom of sin to the freedom of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of justice. As someone who was not ungrateful to the great king who had set him free, so he faithfully served the laws of his Kingdom.
USCCB. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 9,9-13.
As Jesus passed by, 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."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Rupert of Deutz (c.1075-1130)
Benedictine monk
Works of the Holy Spirit, IV, 14 (trans. SC 165, p. 183 rev.)
A publican set free for the Kingdom of God
Matthew the publican received “the bread of life and understanding” as food (Sir 15:3) and, out of this same understanding, held a great banquet in his house for our Lord Jesus, for he had received a plentiful share of grace in conformity with his name [which means “gift of God”]. A foretaste of this feast of grace had been prepared by God. Called while he was still seated at his customs post, “he followed the Lord and gave a great banquet for him in his house” (Lk 5:29). Thus he held a banquet, and a splendid one - a royal banquet, as we might say.
Indeed, Matthew is the evangelist who shows us Christ as king through his family line and through his deeds. At the very beginning of his work he announces: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David” (Mt 1:1). Then he describes how the newborn child was worshipped by the Magi under the title 'king of the Jews' and then, having woven together all the rest of his story with signs of royalty and parables of the Kingdom, he brings it to an end with words spoken by a king already crowned with the glory of his resurrection: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (28:18). If you examine his whole composition carefully, then, you will acknowledge that it displays throughout the mysteries of God's Kingdom. Nothing surprising about this: Matthew had been a publican; he bore in mind how he had been called from public service of the kingdom of sin to the freedom of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of justice. As someone who was not ungrateful to the great king who had set him free, so he faithfully served the laws of his Kingdom.
Letter to the Ephesians 4,1-7.11-13.
Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one …More
Letter to the Ephesians 4,1-7.11-13.
Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
Psalms 19(18),2-3.4-5.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
Brothers and sisters : I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ,
Psalms 19(18),2-3.4-5.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.