Daily Gospel Reflection for September 21, 2023

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

I have a pet peeve I don’t like to admit. I get irritated with people who come to Mass without dressing in their Sunday best, especially at the high holy days. I know this is judgmental, and Jesus is teaching me to be less so.

One day, a man came to Mass dressed in raggedy clothes. The irritation started building inside of me, and I tried hard to focus on our Lord rather than that man. As the Mass progressed, I noticed the man’s outstanding reverence and humility. Clearly, he fully understood what was happening at the altar. I had judged this man by his appearance and assumed that he was not serious about his Catholic faith. The truth was that he was quite serious and exemplified a reverence that I can only hope to achieve. He was there because he knew he needed to be there, because he loved our Lord and yearned to receive him in his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. What he wore on his body did not reflect the state of his heart and soul.

Jesus did not judge Matthew and the other tax collectors by their positions and appearance; He judged them by what was in their hearts. He knew they were sinners, but He also knew that they desired conversion. What they looked like on the outside did not reflect what they looked like on the inside. Jesus came into this world for men like the one I saw at Mass that day, for the sinners and tax collectors like Matthew, and for all who have been led astray and need redemption. You and I need redemption, too. At times, we resemble Matthew and his fellow tax collectors. Jesus judges us for what we look like on the inside, not the outside.

Ponder:

How do I judge a person's character?

Pray:

Jesus, you saw Matthew for what he was on the inside, not the outside. Help me to be like You, unafraid to reach out to those others might consider undesirable.

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Jesus didn't judge Matthew and his friends by their positions and appearance; He judged them by what was in their hearts. He knew they were sinners, but He also knew that they desired conversion. #DailyGospel

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