Readings:
I - Gen23:1-4,19,
24:1-8,62-67
II - Mt. 9:9-13
EMPTY TO EMPOWER
The Jewish rabbis were religious teachers and spiritual leaders. They always maintained their status quo in the society. They never associated with women, tax collectors and sinners. In the Gospel passage today, Jesus the rabbi par excellence topsy turvy the attitude of the rabbis, calling Matthew, the tax collector to follow him. He associated with the sinners and tax collectors and dined with them. This infuriated the Pharisees and they asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?”. Jesus refuted the Pharisees saying, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. Jesus emptying himself took on the nature of humankind to empower especially the marginalized, the least and the lost of the society viz. the sick, sinners, Samaritans, women and the tax collectors and not the righteous. The neglected strata of the society were comfortable and at home in the presence of Jesus that infused hope and empowered them for a transformed ad renewed life.
Power, position, prestige, standard, status, ego, caste and creed obstruct people from relating to the poor, the neglected, the down trodden, the oppressed, the marginalized and the less privileged. These obstructs do not follow us after our life here on earth. It is in giving up these obstructs do we gain life eternal. We need not do great things. Just a word of concern, cup of water, kind gesture, voluntary accompaniment, encouraging pat, acknowledging nod, taking up for the voiceless, courageously defending the right of the oppressed, standing up for the truth, comforting presence, selfless giving and righteous living can topsy turvy the world.
We are followers of Jesus, after the model of Jesus our master, let us dare to empty ourselves of all obstructs, to empower the suffering humanity and to restore the image of God in them. Being first Friday, the day dedicated to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray that we may be filled with His love in order to empty ourselves in the empowerment of humankind as we keep repeating this prayer in the silence of our hearts: “Jesus, fill my heart with your love”.
