💖 HOMILY - JULY 4 💖

First Reading - Genesis 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67 

Gospel - Matthew 9:9-13

One of the greatest assurances in Christian life is the call that comes from God. This call is often unexpected and can come in the ordinary moments of life. But when God calls, it is always with a purpose—to draw us closer to Him and to use our lives to accomplish something greater. Today’s readings highlight two individuals—Abraham’s servant and Matthew the tax collector—who respond to a call with openness, trust, and obedience. Their stories invite us to reflect on how God calls each one of us, often in unexpected ways, to fulfill His plan of love and mercy.

In the first reading, we find Abraham nearing the end of his life, yet deeply concerned about ensuring the future of his family in accordance with God’s promises. He commissions his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac—not from among the Canaanites, but from his own kindred. This task is not simply about marriage but about the continuation of God’s covenant. The servant accepts the responsibility with faith and eventually finds Rebekah, who willingly follows him to become Isaac’s wife. Isaac, in turn, receives her with love, and she brings him comfort after the death of his mother Sarah. The entire narrative is marked by trust in divine providence—Abraham’s trust, the servant’s obedience, Rebekah’s openness, and Isaac’s acceptance. This story reminds us that when we walk in trust and fidelity, God guides every step.

In the Gospel, we encounter another surprising moment of divine calling. Jesus sees a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth and simply says, “Follow me.” Without hesitation, Matthew rises and follows Him. The call is sudden and simple, but it changes Matthew’s life entirely. Jesus then dines at Matthew’s house with many tax collectors and sinners, prompting criticism from the Pharisees. Jesus’ response is striking: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” This reveals the heart of Jesus’ mission: not to condemn but to call, to extend mercy, and to draw people into communion with God.

Dear friends, both readings today show that God does not always call the perfect or the prepared, but the willing. He calls in different ways—a quiet prompting, a direct invitation, or a task that demands trust—and He always supplies the grace needed to respond. Matthew, a public sinner, became an apostle and evangelist because he dared to say “yes.” The unnamed servant became an instrument of God’s plan because he obeyed with faith. Rebekah played her role in salvation history because she welcomed the unknown with courage.

We too are called—to discipleship, to mission, to mercy. The Church today needs people like Matthew, ready to leave their old ways and follow Christ. It needs people like Abraham’s servant, willing to go where God leads. It needs people like Rebekah, brave enough to say “yes” to God's unfolding plan. May we, like them, learn to listen to God’s call in our daily lives and respond with trust and generosity.