DAILY HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1)

DAILY HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: FRIEND OF SINNERS

BY: FR GERALD M. MUSA

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY JULY 1 2022

Matthew was a Jew who gathered taxes for the Roman colonialists. He and other tax collectors were hated by their fellow Jews because they were considered traitors. The role of Matthew among Jewish people is similar to the role of Jacobo in the novel, Weep Not Child by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Jacobo is depicted as a wealthy farmer whom the British colonialists used to exploit his fellow Kenyan citizens. The ignoble roles of Matthew and Jacobo dent their public image and make them prominent public enemies.

The Jews expected Jesus to hate Matthew, but the positive attitude of Jesus towards Matthew shocked them. He invited Matthew personally and said to him, “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). Moreover, Jesus went to dine in Matthew’s house, and several sinners, weird people, and tax collectors came in to sit with Jesus. The scribes of the party of the Pharisees were scandalised when they saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). By this statement, Jesus challenges our judgmental and exclusive approach toward sinners.

St. Augustine admonishes us to be like Jesus by “Hate the sin and love the sinner.” This means we must not throw the bath water and the baby. Do we have a friendly and compassionate attitude towards sinners and outcasts?

MATTHEW 9:9-13