THE WORD
Am 8,4-6.9-12/Mt9,9-13
As Jesus passed on from there, 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
The SVD Japan province, for the past years, has continued to be blest with vocations to the priesthood. This year 6 young boys are in our minor seminary in Nagasaki. A Japanese, a Filipino and a Brazilian with Japanese roots have just finished novitiate. Last year two were ordained priests one of whom is a Filipino. Most of our ordinandi, after finishing the SVD Japan Overseas Training Program, decide to continue their theological studies and formation here. We need priests and religious brothers and sisters. “Follow me”, Jesus says. To young men and women out there, come be priests, come and be religious brothers and sisters.
A young French woman has offered herself to God in the service of others, together with 5 in a community called “Ai no Minato”, roughly translated as Love’s Port, in Sendai, Japan. In this ordinary neighborhood, they join the people’s day to day activities. This young woman set up a cooking class.
She may be a single “dot” (tuldok), she says, but combine all dots of love in this world, and it will fill the world. “Follow me”, says Jesus. To you out there, eat and dine with Jesus, talk to Him, and invite others to dine with Him. Share His love, mercy, and compassion.
“Follow me”, the Lord Jesus says in today’s Gospel message. We may be full of imperfections, but all the same God comes to us and calls us. His invitation is an invitation that echoes more so today. It is an invitation to all; an invitation to experience God’s loving and healing, mercy and compassion. And as we experience it, may we share God’s love to others too.
- Fr. Angel Peralta, SVD | Japan
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
