The seeing of Jesus Vs The seeing of Pharisees

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 13th Week -   Friday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 9:9-13*

*First Reading - Gen 23:1-4, 19; 21:1-8;, 62-67*

*The seeing of Jesus Vs The seeing of Pharisees*

*1) Jesus saw the tax collector Matthew*

The Gospel makes it clear that *As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.*

Now the question is what happened after Jesus saw the Tax collector Matthew

First of all it was not and ordinary Gaze, rather it was a divine gaze 

Jesus not only saw a Matthew who was at the tax booth, only collecting the taxes, but Jesus saw much more than these external things 

Jesus  saw in Matthew, a committed disciple

Jesus saw in Matthew a person who will show his willingness to follow Jesus 

Jesus  saw in Matthew, a person who will be able to give up everything, for the sake of following Him 

Jesus  saw in Matthew, a hidden intellectual person who will later write the Gospel narrating the events of His life 

Jesus also saw a generous person in Matthew

Jesus also saw in Matthew a person who will follow Him immediately 

That is why the gaze of Jesus was something special and powerful, which was directed towards a person to change his life for the better 

*2) The seeing of the Pharisees*

What ultimately the Pharisees saw? 

They saw Jesus, who called to be the Messiah, mingling with sinners, tax collectors, and those with whom he was not suppose to mingle 

They saw that there is something wrong in Jesus 

They saw something unusual, which they could not digest 

They saw that their tradition and customs were challenged by Jesus by doing all those things 

Finally their seeing was directed only in finding fault with Jesus, belittling Jesus, branding and insulting Matthew and his company for doing the work of tax collection

Such seeing neither helped them to grow nor allowed the other person to do their work 

Their seeing was so miserable that showed some kind of jealousy, hatred, unhappiness for doing something Good 

*3)  How do I see things in Life? 

What is my gaze at people? 

*Is it a pharisaic gaze*, which is qualified by, jealousy, seeing always negative in everything, hatred, destructive criticism, gossip, unhappiness for something good happening in some one else life?

*Is it a Jesus gaze?* which always sees great and wonderful things in another's life?

Which sees the hidden capabilities, skills and talents in others?

Which sees some unseen beautiful  aspects of human life? 

*So what is my gaze? Divine or Devilish?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*