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Gospel Reading for July 5, 2024 – Matthew 9: 9-13
WORST SINNERS OF ALL
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.”
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The Pharisees did not eat with tax collectors and people labelled “sinners,” because they believed they had “superior sanctity.” In short, they believed they were SINLESS. With the fall of humanity to the devil, no one can claim to be SINLESS, even the Pope himself. This is the reason why Jesus, Son of God was sent by the Father to take the form of a human being, so he may teach us the kind of life that will make us rise from our fallen nature. And, if we follow him as best we can, through his resurrection, we will rise from our earthly bodies and be able to spend the rest of eternity with our Creator.
People who truly believe that they are SINLESS are the WORST SINNERS OF ALL because this is the sin of PRIDE or HUBRIS, the worst of the seven capital sins. It is the sin that makes us think we are so pure that we are above all others. It is the sin that will make us think or feel that we are equal to God. It is precisely this sin that turned the archangel Lucifer into Satan. Nothing but destruction awaits a person who thinks and feels this way, because the person is doomed not to be saved. How very pitiful!
Lord, may we always recognize our need of your grace and mercy!
