Week 16 -Jesus calls

Theme:

I am being personally addressed.

What will I do?

What I might wish to ask:

That I may have a better understanding

of what Jesus does with people, including myself.

That I won’t be afraid

to make myself available to Him.

I place myself before God, before Jesus, who is looking at me with love.

Music: Ad te Jesu Christe (Taizé)

Ad te Jesu Christe

Levavi animam meam,

Salvator mundi,

in te speravi.

To you, Christ Jesus,

I lift up my soul.

Saviour of the world,

I have put my hope in you.

Spotify Link:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0ErUJRl5WKi8ng9Uv5RD47?si=4RXzKGMPQY2i0ultFM7K-g

YouTube Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDkQGB9Cr7s

Matthew 9, 9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sittingwith him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus said: “Follow me” and Matthew stood up and followed Him. He left everything behind and followed Jesus. Unbelievable!

I imagine that Jesus is standing in front of me. I look at Him and try to see the person He is: the person who radiated so much power and love that Matthew immediately followed Him.

And He also calls me!

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The people Jesus calls are not perfect people. He calls sinners. People who fall short or fail; people who sometimes no longer know what to do; people who sometimes can’t cope with things. (In fact, all people.) To these people Jesus says: “Come, follow me!” Do I belong to this group?

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Jesus says: “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” Mercy above all else. I consider what this means to me.

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Mercy! Jesus forgave Matthew his sins and showed him trust: a new beginning. And Matthew followed Him and showed mercy to others. Just as if Jesus next to him walked with a hand on his shoulder. True friendship!

How is that for me?



 Music: Ad te Jesu Christe (Taizé)