Friday 02 July

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

NO SACRIFICES BUT JUSTICE

 

Introduction

      In line with the promise made by God to give the “Promised Land,” to his descendants, Abraham seeks a wife for his son Isaac from his own relatives, but without letting Isaac live in their pagan environment.  For to keep his religion pure Isaac cannot take a Canaanite wife. God is shown here as the God of history.

      The gospel, which Jesus preaches and lives, is not a religion based on the self-righteousness of people but a religion of love and mercy based on God’s pure generosity. This makes it possible for a typical sinner – an exploiter and a traitor to his people to boot – to be called to be an apostle. And Christ sits at table with sinners – with Levi-Matthew and his friends, with us now “so that sins may be forgiven.”

 

Opening Prayer

God of mercy,
you put the self-righteous to shame
and you call sinners to the task
of bringing your Son’s salvation to the world.
Forgive us our pride and reassure us
that we can count on you and your love
because we are weak and sinful people.
Let us share in your life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Reading 1: Gen 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62–67

The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron)
in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites:
“Although I am a resident alien among you,
sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground,
that I may bury my dead wife.”

After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah
in the cave of the field of Machpelah,
facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Abraham had now reached a ripe old age,
and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
Abraham said to the senior servant of his household,
who had charge of all his possessions:
“Put your hand under my thigh,
and I will make you swear by the LORD,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
that you will not procure a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,
but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred
to get a wife for my son Isaac.”
The servant asked him:
“What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land?
Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?”
“Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him.
“The LORD, the God of heaven,
who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin,
and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me,
‘I will give this land to your descendants’–
he will send his messenger before you,
and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
If the woman is unwilling to follow you,
you will be released from this oath.
But never take my son back there!”

A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb.
One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field,
and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.
Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him,
she alighted from her camel and asked the servant,
“Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?”
“That is my master,” replied the servant.
Then she covered herself with her veil.

The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.
Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent;
he married her, and thus she became his wife.
In his love for her, Isaac found solace
after the death of his mother Sarah.

 

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

(1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

 

Alleluia: Mt 11:28

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.”

 

Intercessions

–   For the Church, a community of saints and sinners, that we, the People of God, and our leaders, may not condemn those who fail, but with God give them new chances in life, we pray:

–   For people who have failed and no longer believe in themselves, in God or in the community, that they may draw new courage and hope from our compassion and understanding, we pray:

–   For priests and religious, that they may keep trusting in the Lord who called them notwithstanding their human frailty; that with Christ they may care especially for the poor and the weak, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, merciful Father,
your Son Jesus Christ
was eating with tax collectors and sinners
because they needed him.
We bring this bread and wine before you
that he may sit at table with us
because we too need him.
Accept his sacrifice and ours
so that sins may be forgiven
and that we may live in your love
now and for ever.

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God, merciful Father,
through your Son in our midst
help us to be mild and compassionate
without condemning anyone,
for you have been gentle to us.
And do not let us boast
of our human achievements,
for we owe everything
to your grace and your call
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Blessing

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Let these words change our attitude towards people and also ourselves. Let these words make us understanding and mild to everyone, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary

Exclusion or inclusion? Abraham is very much a man of his own culture. After Sarah’s burial, he must now provide a wife for Isaac. He makes his servant swear that she will not be chosen from among the Canaanite population but from among his own people. Purity of the genealogical line was essential for the descendants of the patriarchs. The servant gives his assurance. But there is another issue. Isaac must not be taken back to Abraham’s country. He must remain in Canaan, since this was the land that God had promised to his people. The servant’s mission was blessed with success. Rebekah makes the return trip with him to become Isaac’s wife.

Abraham insisted on exclusivity. Jesus is exactly the opposite. The latter would find place for everyone who would come to him. The Jewish prohibition against contact with public sinners finds no place in Jesus’ vision. In fact, it is the sinner who needs him most. He takes no issue with sinners sitting and eating with him. When his conduct is questioned by the Pharisees, he answers them directly. It is for the sake of the sinner that he has come into the world. The healthy do not need a doctor; the sick do. The teaching is a very important one. Ours is not a church of the perfect or the sinless but rather the weak and the needy. We should be grateful that anyone can find a home with us. If the church were only for the sinless, none of us would be here.

 

Points to Ponder

Abraham’s condition for a wife for Isaac

The embrace of the sinner

A holy church for the less than holy.