＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67

 Sarah lived a hundred and twenty- seven years.  

She died at Kiria­tharba ­– that is Hebron – in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to weep and mourn for Sarah.  Abraham left his dead one   and spoke to the Hittites, “I am only a stranger among you; give me a burial place among you, so that I may bury my dead.”   After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.

Abraham was now old and well on in years, and Yahweh had blessed him in every way.  Abraham said to his senior servant, who was his steward, “Put your hand under my thigh   and you will swear to me by Yahweh, God of heaven and earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom we live;   rather it is to my country and my kinsfolk that you will go to choose a wife for my son, Isaac.”

 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not want to follow me to this country. In that case should I take your son to the country you came from?”   Abra­ham said to him, “In no way will you take my son back.   For Yahweh, God of heaven and God of earth, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, spoke to me and swore to me that he would give this country to my race.

He will send his angel before you, that you may find a wife for my son.  But if the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be free of this oath. In any case you are not to take my son down there.”   Now Isaac had come from the well of Lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negeb.   

As Isaac went out in the early evening to meditate in the field, he looked up and saw camels coming.  Rebekah also looked up and when she saw Isaac she alighted from her camel and said to the servant, “Who is this man in the field coming to meet us?” He replied, “It is my master!” She then covered her face with her veil.  

 The servant related to Isaac all that he had done and Isaac brought ­Rebekah into the tent of Sarah, his mother. He made her his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

 

Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthe 9:9-13

 As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew got up and followed him.  Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples.   When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?”

When Jesus heard this he said, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do.   Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Some people thought of as habitual sinners do not necessarily possess a callous conscience. Deep down, some of them long for a better life. It's just that they don't know how. Their sinful life has lasted such a long time that they have forgotten how to live a life that is good.

They need help from others to show them the way, but sad to say, others shun them and do not want to have anything to do with them. Take for example the tax collector Matthew in today's Gospel. He is at his usual tax collector table. Day in and day out he does this and the monotony of his work deadens his capacity to think of something else to do, and how to get away from his trade, marked as sinful.

And then Jesus comes along. A simple invitation wakes Matthew from his stupor. He gets up and follows Jesus and never looks back to his past sinful life. Jesus gives him reason to start anew. The very day Jesus called and he followed is the day that salvation finally entered his household.