That Thing You Do | September 21, 2016

September 21, 2016

One of the best ways for me to see the glory of God at work is when I witness someone doing their thing. Do you know what I mean? When I go to a volleyball game and they bring in the girl with the killer serve and she brings that killer serve on with confidence. When I go to the theatre and the lead takes my breath away. When I listen to a trio sing in perfect harmony and it gives me goose bumps. When I watch my brother dance at Hip Hop class and he is better than the teacher. When my mom sews a meticulous and gorgeous quilt and my dad cooks an exquisite meal. When an eloquent preacher preaches. When a gifted teacher makes a break through with their students in class. When a nurse goes above and beyond the medicine to provide comfort. When a child dances like no one is watching. When a teenager learns that God loves them just as they are. When professional athletes play at their full potential. When a singer blows the judges away on American Idol. When a mom jogs around the golf course while pushing twins in a stroller. When a dad takes his little girl on a date.…………..God’s glory is manifested in people living as the best versions of themselves and I get a glimpse of that when people are doing what they are called to do.

The readings today speak to this. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he opens with “I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.” The virtues that give our call this worth are: humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Are not all these things required for the above-mentioned sightings of God’s glory? When we are doing “that thing we do”, and when “that thing we do” is steeped in grace, coming from the inside out, and is a response to the still small voice from within, then God’s glory transfigures before our very eyes and all who see it will be changed. Paul tells us that if we make every effort to align ourselves with the Holy Spirit, peace will be our bond. Wouldn’t it be lovely to bonded to one another in peace rather than bonded because of our career, or our nationality, or our financial status, or our school, or our last name, or our skin color, or our language, or our location?

While we are ALL called to something, we are not all called to the same thing, which makes life so darn entertaining doesn’t it? So do that thing you do and do it well and people will hopefully follow your lead and do their thing well too. You see how that works?

The gospel today is the call of Matthew because it is the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and evangelist. I wonder if Matthew knew that the day Jesus called him by his name (indicating that they had been hanging out prior to this day) would change the world forever. Matthew’s name is imbedded in every Christian’s mind as the first of the 4 gospels in the Bible. I wonder if the magnitude of that might have sent an unknown shock wave through his entire being during this scene (or at least clenched his butt cheeks shut!! I’m not sure which one). At any rate, Matthew, a tax collector was called by name, by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of his chosen twelve. I’m not sure our generation can fully appreciate how outrageous choosing a tax collector was in Jesus’ time. Maybe Jesus calling the most corrupt politician you can think of might be in the same vein. The point is that Jesus was constantly shaking things up or setting things up for the next teaching opportunity. Of course he knew that people would be offended by his affiliation with those terrible tax collectors and sinners, and he was ready for it with this, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” BAM!!! I like how he tells them now get out or go and learn the meaning of what I just said. Jesus cracks me up sometimes. But seriously, how often do we forget that church is filled with sinners. I think teenagers especially forget this and feel that church is for the really good people and since a lot of times they feel less than good, they think church is not for them.  This passage from Matthew brings us back to the reality that Christ came to heal the sick, find those that are lost, save the dying, and love those that feel unlovable. He came for you and me, friends.

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
Lectionary: 643

Reading 1 EPH 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Alleluia -  See Te Deum

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”