Assisted Living Is Better Living

July 6, 2018

I work in an Assisted Living For Seniors Facility.  Assisted Living provides 24-hour nursing care, housekeeping, organized activities, transportation, and prepared meals as needed for the elderly. Every resident that lives with us is in need of some sort of daily assistance ranging from very limited care to full-time around the clock extensive care. We provide assistance in every area of life including their social activities, religious practices, and well being of their soul. The average age is well above 80 and their longevity keeps growing. Our oldest resident just turned a spry 104 last week! There is a sign on the side of our building that says, “Assisted Living Is Better Living” and that is the theme of today’s gospel.

The story begins with the call of Matthew, our gospel writer. Jesus approached him and said two words, “Follow me.” Those two words would change Matthew’s life forever and Matthew simply got up and followed. Jesus must have been chatting Matthew up before this, perhaps several weeks of street relational ministry. Tax Collectors were some of the most hated people in the Middle Eastern culture and this Matthew made some sort of impression on Jesus. I wonder what it was? Did he show tremendous potential or was he the most sinful one? Was he a reluctant tax collector that just did it because it was the family business or was he a very proud and enthusiastic one? Did any of Jesus’ previous conversations indicate that Matthew wanted a conversion or was he set in his tax collector ways? Whatever the reason, Jesus called Him by name with two words and Matthew responded immediately. They ended up at Matthew’s house for dinner and it says, “many tax collectors and sinners” showed up to eat as well. This scene cracks me up because basically Jesus invites Himself and several of his rowdy friends over to the rich guy’s house knowing that said rich guy hangs out with other sinners. He kept everyone on his or her toes and was constantly pushing limits! Jesus must have been extremely gregarious and simply irresistible. I love that detail about Him. 

While Jesus was eating His free chicken dinner, the Pharisees were bending His disciples’ ear with judgment over His choice in friends. "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" I’m sure the disciples were stumped about this as well, and before they had a chance to respond with a “we don’t really know”, Jesus takes the bait, which He obviously set up perfectly, to preach one of the most important, but forgotten pieces of why God sent His only begotten Son. "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." Assisted living is better living. We ALL qualify as needing assistance when it comes to care for our souls. I can easily change out the word sinner for my own name, “I did not come to call the righteous, but Jen, a sinner.” Why? Jen, a sinner, needs 24-hour care because she cannot do it on her own. She is weak and wounded and scarred and unable to walk sometimes. She needs assistance. She needs to be fed, to be cleansed, to be held, to be nurtured. She needs assistance. 

Today Jesus reminds us that we are in need of assisted living, 24-hour care, and it is our sin that qualifies us for that care. Lastly, I love His dismissal of the Pharisees, “go and learn the meaning of I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” There it is, His favorite theme: MERCY. Do we get it yet? Do we practice it yet? Do we desire it yet? Assisted living is better living. I need assistance and I hope that you also need assistance. Have a mercy-filled day and it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 AM 8:4-6, 9-12

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!
"When will the new moon be over," you ask,
"that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?"
We will diminish the containers for measuring,
add to the weights,
and fix our scales for cheating!
We will buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!"

On that day, says the Lord GOD,
I will make the sun set at midday
and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentations.
I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth
and make every head bald.
I will make them mourn as for an only son,
and bring their day to a bitter end.

Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131

R.    (Matthew 4:4) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your justice give me life.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia MT 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
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."