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1st Reading: Am 8:4–6, 9–12
Hear this, you who trample on the needy to do away with the weak of the land. You who say, “When will the new moon or the sabbath feast be over that we may open the store and sell our grain? Let us lower the measure and raise the price; let us cheat and tamper with the scales, and even sell the refuse with the whole grain. We will buy up the poor for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.”
Yahweh says, “On that day I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.
“I will turn your festivals into mourning and all your singing into wailing. Everyone will mourn, covered with sackcloth and every head will be shaved. I will make them mourn as for an only son and bring their day to a bitter end.”
Yahweh says, “Days are coming when I will send famine upon the land, not hunger for bread or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of Yahweh.
“Men will stagger from sea to sea, wander to and fro, from north to east, searching for the word of Yahweh, but they will 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.
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus moved on from there, he saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew got up and followed him. Now it happened, while Jesus was at table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and other sinners joined Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why is it that your master eats with those sinners and tax collectors?”
When Jesus heard this he said, “Healthy people do not need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and find out what this means: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Friday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time
THE LORD EATS WITH SINNERS
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.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Amos castigates the people of Israel for offering sacrifices and obser-ving religious feasts but not rendering justice; they are exploiting their brothers and sisters, who are with them people of the same covenant. He holds out hope for them if they are converted.
Gospel Reading Introduction
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."
General 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.
