Todos, Todos, Todos!

“Repite conmigo: Todos, todos, todos.” (“Repeat with me: Everyone, everyone, everyone.”)

Pope Francis proclaimed this message to 1.5 million young people at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal this past August. He later emphasized that the church is open to everyone, including “the sick, the elderly, the young, old, ugly, beautiful, good and bad.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus calls Matthew, a toll collector for Rome, to follow him. The Pharisees there, in Capernaum, publicly challenge Jesus’ honor by asking his disciples why he eats with tax collectors and sinners–scandalous behavior, in their opinion. Yet, Jesus maintains that, “those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.”

Then, quoting the Prophet Hosea, Jesus tells the Pharisees to learn what these words mean: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). While the Pharisees upheld that the sacrifice of ritual purity and Sabbath observance was paramount in following the Torah, they seemed much less aware of the centrality of mercy. 

Today, we easily separate our actions and inactions from the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, but I wonder. Have we learned the meaning of showing mercy instead of emphasizing sacrifice? Do we invite, ignore, or even shun those in our faith communities who we assume are not worthy of stepping into our church, seeking healing, hope and mercy from the God of love we profess? 

I can’t help but reflect on the closeness and tenderness with which Jesus shared his very self with social outcasts. Can we do the same? Can we sit at the table which Jesus sat, sharing our lives and healing wounds? May we continue to contemplate profoundly and unfold meaningfully in our lives, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”