--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for September 21, 2016 - St. Matthew description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/21/daily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for September 21, 2016 - St. Matthew Sep 21, 2016 5:30:04 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 9, 9-13](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092116.cfm) - St. Matthew*** "...I come sick to the physician of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the light of eternal brightness, poor and needy to the Lord of Heaven and Earth…" One day, with our 3 year old in tow, we began attending a very conservative Catholic parish. The parish not only offered a Latin Mass, but also recited prayers before and after all Masses (Regular and Latin). In a short time, I fell in love with saying the Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas before each Mass. I've always particularly loved this prayer, as I never feel quite worthy. Each day, I fail at the job he has set before me. I yell at my kids, I neglect the house, I never seem to get around to praying as I should. Yet the Lord is not finished with me yet. Each day, I try again to pick up the cross laying at my feet and follow him in HIS will for my day, not my own. I serve Him in the teething babies, illnesses, lonely evenings, and (not so gracefully) handling unexpected delays and interruptions. HIS plan. In today's reading, Matthew left a lucrative job as a tax collector to follow Jesus. He threw a party attended by tax collectors and other sinners; and every time I say this prayer before Mass, I remember how grateful I am. I have been invited to dine at His table, despite my unworthiness. Not only have I been invited to dine with Him, but I have been invited to dine on His body and blood! ### Ponder: Could you be missing an opportunity to drop what you are doing and instead follow His plans for you? Try embracing interruptions and see what God can do! ### Pray: Lord, heal me of my infirmity and wash me clean. Help me to drop everything as Matthew did and to follow You with a pure and cheerful heart.   *Copyright 2016 Jen Steed* Jen is a Catholic wife and mother to three little ones, whose nose can usually be found buried in a book, learning once all the work is done. Or sometimes, even when it's not! You can find Jen blogging about the big 5 - God & Catholicism, taking care of yourself, serving your spouse and children and all the other work women typically do at home. She can be found blogging at Happy Little Homemaker and spending too much time on social media. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F21%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F21%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F21%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20September%2021%2C%202016%20-%20St.%20Matthew) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F21%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F21%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-september-21-2016-st-matthew%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for September 25, 2016 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/25/daily-gospel-reflection-september-25-2016-26th-sunday-ordinary-time) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for August 21, 2016 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/08/21/daily-gospel-reflection-august-21-2016-21st-sunday-ordinary-time) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for August 20, 2017 - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/08/20/daily-gospel-reflection-august-20-2017-20th-sunday-ordinary-time) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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