Daily Gospel Reflection for July 5, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Jesus had had enough. Today's Gospel immediately follows the miracle of a paralytic brought to Him on a stretcher. Jesus told the man that his sins were forgiven, and the scribes start in, saying, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus responds by not only forgiving his sins, but by healing the man.

As Jesus walks on, he sees Matthew and says two words:

"Follow me."

Matthew leaves his post and follows. We don't know whose house they were at, but they were joined by tax collectors and sinners, and the Pharisees start in, saying, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus responds,

"Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus calls tax collectors and sinners. While we may not all be tax collectors, we all fit in the sinner category. Yet Jesus says the same words to us: "Follow me." How do we answer? In today's world, we can't just drop everything and go . . . well, I don't know where we would go to follow Jesus if He walked by. However, the Greek word for "follow" not only means to accompany specifically as a disciple, it also means to be in the same way with.

For us to be in the same way with, we too, must desire mercy, to the point of wanting so much of it that we want to give it away. The scribes were not impressed that the man's sins were forgiven. The Pharisees were not impressed with the company Jesus kept, but Jesus reached out in mercy to them all. We can give mercy only when we receive it and every morning, His mercies on us are new and everlasting.

Ponder:

Are there any areas of your life where Jesus is asking you to be in the same way with Him?

Pray:

Jesus, help me see that when You said “Follow me” to Matthew, You were also speaking to me. Please give me the grace to leave behind what needs to be left behind.

Daily Gospel 2