PRAYER MOMENT
Friday
4 July 2014
FOLLOW ME
Pause. Be there
when Matthew is called.
Reading: Jesus
saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him
“Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matt. 9:9-13)
Reflection. The
abruptness of the event astonishes us. Just two words and Matthew follows Jesus
for life. But the two words label a whole history. Pope Francis used the event
as his motto on becoming a bishop, “He showed mercy and he called him.” It
sounds better in the Latin. Matthew (and Francis) grasped the astonishing
initiative of God in searching for the sinner and calling them to new life and
applied it to themselves. Pope Francis later made it his first point in his
letter, “The Joy of the Gospel.” Mercy is the the greatest of the virtues. It
contains all. It is the way in which God reaches out to his people, sometimes
directly – as with Matthew – but normally indirectly and the pope, remembering
the influence of his own grandmother Rosa, cites 2 Timothy, “I am reminded of
your faith that dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice.”
Prayer. Lord
Jesus, in mercy you come to us, your broken people, and raise us to share in
the joy of the good news. Open our hearts to receive you and help us to share
your joy with others. Amen.
David Harold-Barry SJ
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