Daily Readings for September 21, 2015

Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist

1ST READING

Faith is at the heart of an apostle’s calling. We must always make it the heart of our own. We are nothing if we are not surrendered to God’s will in all things. If we do whatever we want, then sin becomes our master, not God. Let us obey Jesus and follow where He leads us so that we will always serve Him and His Kingdom.

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

1 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 11 And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

P S A L M

Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R: Their message goes out through all the earth.

1 [2] The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 [3] Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. (R) 3 [4] Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; 4 [5] through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

GOSPEL

Matthew, the tax collector, followed Jesus and became His disciple. He left us a witness to the life of Jesus in his Gospel. Let us thank God for the men and women who were obedient to Him and generous enough to lay down their lives in His service. Without them, the Gospel would never have been proclaimed to us. Let us continue what they began and pass on the Gospel to the next generation.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

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.”

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