Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jews hated tax collectors, who were often viewed as thieves, extorting exuberant amounts of money from citizens, even the poor. 

The Jews had only one king – God – so paying taxes to the Romans was a type of infringement on God’s right as their sovereign king.

In fact, in Jewish law, tax collectors were forbidden from entering the synagogue; they were thrown into the same ritual lot as unclean animals, robbers, and murderers. 

In a word, they were thought of as, scum.

Yet it’s the tax collector, Matthew, whom Jesus calls in today’s Gospel, revealing the Lord’s ability to see deep into the human heart, weighing not only what a person is, but also what they can become.

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For the next three years, Matthew will learn how to leave himself and his desires behind in order to follow Jesus. After the resurrection, he will set East to share the Gospel to the far edges of the known world – as far as Ethiopia, where traditionally he was martyred.

Matthew became an Apostle, a significant leader in the early Church, leaving behind his written testimony to Christ, who changed the world.

Each of us has been affected by Matthew’s Gospel.

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He teaches us that following Christ can involve leaving worldly comforts in exchange for adventure.

Following Christ will make us shed our ego, putting on a new self.

Following Christ leads to a future yet to be written, paved not by human ingenuity or calculation, but step by step in faith.

When the Lord looks at us, he sees not only who we are, but also who we can become. “Will you leave yourself behind,” he asks, “and follow me?”

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Image credits: (1) The Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio (2) Ibid. (3) Follow Me, Whitehall Church of Christ

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

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I often use this Gospel passage while celebrating the Sacrament of Anointing as both a comfort and a challenge. 

It’s a comforting passage because there is a man who’s paralyzed. His friends place him at the feet of Jesus, trusting that Christ can heal him. And seeing their faith, the Lord says to the paralytic, “Rise.” Suddenly, the man stands up, takes his stretcher, and walks home.

I’ve witnessed stories just like this in my priestly ministry. 

People have suffered from cancer, double pneumonia, brain damage, or some other affliction. After being anointed, they were completely healed! It has happened nearly a dozen times in the last few years. 

Such stories of healing are reminders that Christ is present in the Sacraments. That’s undeniably a comfort.

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But this Gospel passage also presents a challenge. 

As human beings, it’s easy for us to focus on that which is physical. If a person is sick, then we want their body restored to health!

But notice what the Lord says to this paralytic in the Gospel first. Before he is healed physically, the Lord looks upon the man and says, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”

To call this man a “child” means that he’s been welcomed into God’s family, an invitation that comes after his sins have been forgiven. This is what matters most in the mind of God – not the healing of this man’s paralysis, but the state of his soul. 

While his body was healed for a few years, his soul was healed forever.

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So, it is with us.

Often, we seek the Lord’s healing power. While it can be granted, this Gospel passage reminds us to “seek first what is above,” being concerned most about our identity as children of God who will live with him forever.

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Image credits: (1) Buckner International (2) Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man Tapestry, Aaron Spong (3) Access Church, Lakeland

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Gospel: John 20: 24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Why is this story of doubting Thomas the final story in John’s Gospel?

Perhaps John is giving us permission to be Thomas. To ponder, to doubt, to question, each in our own way. I’m sure we’ve all said at some point, “Wait a minute… how can that be?”

Maybe we’ve questioned the possibility of the bodily resurrection; how personal God claims to be; or one of the many Catholic doctrines about Jesus, Mary, or the Eucharist.

It isn’t wrong to question; exercising reason is a healthy thing. But when we ask questions about our faith, we must also take the responsibility of finding the right answer.

Ultimately, every tenet of our Catholic faith is upheld by reason, even if part of the answer – like God’s existence – is shrouded in ministry.

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Thomas reveals to us where the answers to our questions can be found – in the presence of the Church.

The reason why his heart was filled with doubt in the first place was because he wasn’t with the others when Christ first appeared. He was hiding elsewhere, grieving on his own.

The Lord only reveals himself to Thomas after Thomas re-joins the Apostolic community, and by extension, the Church.

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This is where most of our answers can be found.

We not only have the Bible, 2,000 years of tradition, the writings of the popes, Saints, and martyrs, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promises will, “lead us to all Truth.”

It’s okay to be Thomas – to doubt, to ponder, to question. But when we do, make the effort to find the right answer by seeking out, praying with, and studying the wisdom of the Church.

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Image credits: (1) Inc. Magazine (2) Doubting Thomas, Caravaggio (3) The Fold