Friday, September 21, 2018 Readings and Sorrowful mysteries of the rosary
Jesus asked Matthew, the tax collector to come and follow him. Matthew invited Jesus to dinner. A number of tax collectors and sinners ate with Jesus.
"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."
Matt 9:11-13
Sorrowful mysteries - thinking of the onlookers during Christ's passion
I listened to Mother Angelica's rosary between 5:30 and 6:00 am. for the second decade, the scourging, the narrator painted the scene of Jesus bound to a pillar and whipped in front of onlookers, and how Jesus was made to feel like a worm and not a man. My gut reaction was how could Jesus love these onlookers. They watched either indifferent to him, wanting to see a show, or with some personal or religious or idealistic dislike or hate of him. Those who loved him, or believed in him might have been there as well, having all kinds of feelings seeing Jesus pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins.
I asked God "How/why do you love people who don't know you, don't want to know you, or hate you to the point where they can watch torture indifferently? The answer came in today's Gospel, highlighted above.
I think about the onlookers in this day. The brouhahas over Supreme Court nominee Brett Cavanaugh's accuser's claims of his assault to her in high school and the current Catholic Church's clergy sexual abuse scandal. We all listen to the radio, watch TV and use social media, all abuzz with scandal. Interesting that it always seems to be about sex. So many different ideas, opinions and thoughts and emotions in us, the onlookers. Yet, Jesus loves us enough to be tortured and die to bring us to heaven.
Thank you God. Please have mercy on us, the onlookers. Dine with us, Jesus. Be our friend, teacher and healer.
Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom to know ourselves and our particular "pet" weaknesses (see the Seven Deadly sins) Protect us from idle curiosity and gossip. Give us a desire to see only what is Good, True and Beautiful. Give us moral fortitude in all temptations and grant us your peace always. Teach us to love as you love.
Seven Deadly Sins
Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Greed
Lust
Sloth
Wrath
