21 September 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

First Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-7, 11-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 2-3, 4-5
Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13

I recall and experience I had when Nina and I were new in Couples for Christ. I was then a supervisor and was in-charge of the morning shift. As I am at work early, I usually take my breakfast in our office cafeteria. One morning, in the middle of my breakfast, our EVP-General Manager came in and asked if he can sit down with me. He just ordered coffee and we began talking about concerns in plant operations. After some time, a missionary impulse led me to tell him, “You know sir, I don’t know why I am telling you this, but God loves you.” And I briefly shared with him our life in CFC and how I have felt God’s love in our community. As he finished his coffee and was about to leave, he said to me, “Thank you Rouquel for telling me that God loves me, I really needed to hear that, especially today. Thank you very much.” As he left the cafeteria, I was still thinking if I said the right thing, but I felt God’s affirmation that I followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

My brothers and sisters, Pope Francis said that a missionary heart never closes itself off, and never retreats into its own security, never opts for rigidity and defensiveness… and it always does what good it can, even if in the process, its shoes gets soiled by the mud of the street ⏤ let us therefore ask for the grace to be like St. Matthew whose prompt response to the invitation of Jesus led him to begin his new mission by introducing Jesus to his friends at a dinner party he hosted. And many tax collectors and sinners had the opportunity to experience the mercy of God because Matthew opened his home and missionary heart to them.

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