9/21/2026 (Monday) Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 9:9-13
9 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.
10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well, do not need a physician, but the sick do.
13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
9/21/2026 (Monday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 9:9-13
This Gospel passage tells us about a man named Matthew, a tax collector who was sitting at his workplace when Jesus passed by. Others may have seen Matthew as a sinner, a collaborator, or someone unworthy of respect. But Jesus saw something different. He saw a person whose story was not finished. Jesus called him to follow, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Later, Jesus shared a meal with tax collectors and other people considered sinners. Religious leaders questioned why He would associate with such people. Jesus responded by showing that His mission was not to congratulate those who believed they were already perfect, but to reach those who knew they needed healing.
This is where the word MERCY speaks powerfully to us.
M — Make room for people who are still becoming.
We often judge people according to their past mistakes. But God sees not only who they have been; He sees who they can become. Someone’s worst chapter does not have to be the ending of their story. Mercy gives people room to change, grow, and begin again.
E — Examine your own heart before judging others.
It is easy to notice another person’s weaknesses while overlooking our own. Mercy reminds us that none of us stands before God because we are perfect. We all need forgiveness, patience, and grace. Before pointing a finger, let us first look into our own hearts.
R — Remember that everyone needs healing.
Some wounds are visible; others are hidden behind smiles, success, or silence. The person who appears strong may be struggling inside. The person who seems difficult may be carrying pain we know nothing about. Mercy allows us to look beyond behavior and ask what might be happening in the heart.
C — Choose compassion over condemnation.
Condemnation pushes people farther away, but compassion creates a path toward restoration. This does not mean approving wrong actions. It means correcting without humiliating, guiding without destroying, and telling the truth without removing hope.
Y — Your story can begin again.
Matthew was known by his occupation, his reputation, and the choices he had made. But Jesus did not define him by his past. He gave him a new direction and a new purpose. This reminds us that no matter how many mistakes we have made, God can still open a new chapter in our lives. We may carry the memories of yesterday, but we do not have to remain prisoners of yesterday. Mercy gives us the courage to stand up, leave the past behind, and walk toward the person God is calling us to become.
Matthew’s story reminds us of something beautiful: Jesus does not wait for people to become perfect before calling them. He calls them so they can become new.
Perhaps there is someone you have already judged because of their past. Perhaps there is someone you believe is too far gone to change. Or perhaps you are the one carrying shame, wondering whether God can still use you.
Remember Matthew. A tax collector became a disciple. A person others looked down upon became part of something greater than his past.
That is the power of MERCY: it does not pretend our mistakes never happened. It simply refuses to let our mistakes have the final word.
Go here to read further Gospel reflection.
