First Sunday after Trinity
“Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’”
Summary
Last week was Trinity Sunday, a day when we remember that God desire’s to bring us into relationship: with one another, with God, with creation. This week’s readings explore what that might look like. According to Hosea (5:15-6:6) God has caused the people’s suffering because they are not in relationship of love (with God or one another) “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Our gospel makes it clear that God is not punishing or judging anyone: Jesus chooses Matthew, (Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26) a tax collector, a collaborator, an oppressor of his people. He does not judge him he invites him into a relationship in which he can experience a different way of living. Jesus is then asked to heal a girl, a favoured daughter of Israel but this healing is interrupted by another woman, this time an outcast. Jesus heals the outcast first, not because he favours her over the privileged child but because the child (who represents Israel) cannot be healed until the outcast are brought into a relationship of love. When we reach out in love to those in need, we are not healing them, we are healing ourselves.
READING
Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.’
