We present to biblical passage Mt 9,9-13 with a pastoral and welcoming approach. This excerpt from Gospel of Matthew narrates Jesus' calling of Matthew in tax collection and the table shared with tax collectors and sinners.

The liturgical references for the 13th Week of Ordinary Time and the reflection materials from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) and the Paulines guide our reading. They emphasize the decisive phrase: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," as the key to understanding Christ's liberating action.

In this section, we have gathered the biblical and liturgical sources that support the study. We highlight the serene and inspiring tone of the text. We want to help Christian families meditate on Jesus' call and the practice of mercy.

Throughout the article, we will return to the text of Mt 9,9-13, We will examine the context and the reaction of the Pharisees. We will also consider the pastoral implications. May this reading inspire conversations at home and strengthen community bonds centered on compassion and conversion.

Historical and biblical context of the Gospel of Matthew.

In this section, we explore the background that helps Christian families to read. Matthew 9:9-13 with more depth. The Gospel of Matthew It emerges for a community that seeks to unite Jewish tradition with the newness of Jesus.

Before going into detail, we ask ourselves: who wrote this gospel? For whom was it written? What social tensions shaped it? called Matthew?

Author and audience of the Gospel of Matthew

Tradition attributes authorship to Matthew, identified with Levi in several patristic currents. Studies indicate that the author and audience They had strong Jewish roots.

The text engages with readers concerned about the continuation of the Law. At the same time, it presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures.

Historical overview of the period and social practices (tax collection)

The social setting of the book reveals communities marked by injustice and division. tax collection It was seen as a space of economic capture and ritual impurity.

Tax collectors were associated with the Roman occupation and illicit gains. This explains the stigma surrounding them. Matthew Levi.

These circumstances show why Jesus' gesture of calling and sitting with tax collectors caused shock.

The liturgy and translation from the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops) offer a pastoral tool that helps parishes and families reflect on inclusion and social reparation.

Parallels in Mark and Luke regarding the calling of Matthew/Levi

The narratives of Mark and Luke present accounts similar to Matthew 9:9-13, confirming that the call of the debt collector appears in a widespread tradition.

Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32 show that Jesus calls marginalized people to the mission.

These parallels indicate a common theological intention: to show the mercy of Jesus in the face of legalism.

For those who follow the text in a parish context, it is worthwhile to compare versions and reflect on the scope of Jesus' invitation.

To deepen your understanding of Levi's calling, we suggest the following text, which integrates pastoral reflection and accessible exegesis: Levi's calling and the mercy of.

Reading and dissection of the text Matthew 9:9-13

Here we present a careful reading of CNBB text, followed by practical tools for family meditation.

A reading Matthew 9,9-13 It deserves careful consideration. It combines invitation, shared meals, and a confrontation with legalistic religiosity.

Full text according to the CNBB translation.

Reading from Matthew 9,9-13 according to the transcription used in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time: Jesus calls Matthew with the words "Follow me".

Matthew gets up and follows him. Jesus sits down at the table in Matthew's house; tax collectors and sinners come and eat with him.

The Pharisees ask the disciples why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus replies: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”.

Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”.

Verse-by-verse analysis: the calling, the meal, and the Pharisees' reaction.

• Verse 9 — The direct invitation “Follow me” reveals the authority and simplicity of the call.

  Matthew's immediate response demonstrates a practical conversion and a break with previous ties.

• Verse 10 — The meal at Matthew's house symbolizes fellowship and inclusion.

  The table becomes the meeting place between Jesus and the marginalized.

• Verses 11-12 — The Pharisees' question exposes a view of social purity.

  Jesus' response uses the image of the doctor and the sick to justify his presence among sinners.

• Verse 13 — The phrase "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" appears as the foundation of the calling.

  Jesus makes it clear that his mission prioritizes compassion and seeking out those who are far away.

Meaning of the expression "I desire mercy, not sacrifice"“

The expression points to a practical theology. God prefers actions that restore relationships to empty rituals.

This principle calls for conversion of heart and pastoral care. It gives special attention to Jesus and sinners.

For families and leaders, the reading Matthew 9,9-13 in verse-by-verse analysis It offers clarifying steps.

It is recommended to read the CNBB text, To meditate on one's personal calling and to practice acts of mercy at home and in the community.

Matthew's calling: invitation, response, and missionary implications.

The episode of called Matthew It depicts an encounter that changes personal and community lives.

Jesus passes through a workplace rife with prejudice. The invitation changes his routine on his mission.

It raises questions about how to respond to the same call today.

Matthew's profile: tax collector, social stigma, and conversion.

Matthew was known as tax collector, a figure rejected by Jewish society at the time.

Tradition highlights the stigma attached to his work. Being called by Jesus reveals the power of forgiveness and inclusion.

The narrative shows that conversion does not depend on prior merit.

Encountering Jesus brings about profound changes in life and in relationships with the community.

The dynamics of "Follow Me": Jesus' authority and immediate response.

The verb Follow me It brings a gentle authority and a merciful invitation.

The text highlights that Matthew got up and followed Jesus immediately.

This gesture shows confidence and a willingness to leave behind old security measures.

There is something pastoral about the invitation: it doesn't impose a plan, it offers a journey.

The immediate response indicates that the Christian vocation It asks for listening and for abandoning the shackles that bind us.

Implications for the Christian vocation today: leaving behind old securities and following

For families, the episode inspires educational practices that value listening to God's call.

Parents and communities are called to guide their children to choose faith and service, even if it involves sacrifices.

• To value daily conversions, where repentance and forgiveness They affect family relationships.
• To encourage parish environments where encountering Jesus is welcomed and a mission.
• Supporting those who lose status or resources when answering the call, creating solidarity networks.

Interpreting the episode of Matthew as an invitation for everyone shows that... Christian vocation It requires repeated choices based on trust.

This process transforms personal lives and strengthens the community mission.

Jesus and sinners: table, inclusion, and transgression of norms.

Matthew's account challenges us to consider the table as a theological and pastoral space. Sitting with tax collectors and sinners is a gesture that prioritizes mercy over social etiquette. This attitude inspires families and communities to rethink practices that exclude the most vulnerable.

What is the meaning of sharing bread with those rejected by society? In the Jewish context, sharing food symbolized social and ritual acceptance. By inviting tax collectors and marginalized people, Jesus shows that true coexistence is born from trust and concrete presence.

The symbolism of sitting at the table with tax collectors and sinners points to radical inclusion. Sitting down was a sign of connection. When the Christian community adopts table and inclusion, It reconfigures power relations and welcomes lives with dignity.

How does Jesus' attitude confront Pharisaic legalism? His presence at the table breaks down ritual selectivities that perpetuate exclusions. Jesus prefers mercy, echoing Hosea 6:6 and reflections by Paulinas and Frei Bruno on love for empty norms.

This gesture shows that rules cannot limit God's presence among the poor and excluded. Parishes that adopt this stance promote welcome without preliminary questions. They become living signs of compassion.

What practices emerge from this reading? The pastoral agenda can include community meal projects, family support groups, and social reintegration programs. These actions transform principles into visible gestures of... Christian inclusion.

• Open-air meals that serve homeless people and migrants.
• Welcoming teams that support newly converted individuals without labeling them.
• Pastoral care for the reintegration of former prisoners and drug addicts.
• Family circles and listening groups to offer support and reconciliation.

When we practice table and inclusion In parish life, the community becomes a place of healing and encounter. The experience of Jesus and sinners It calls for pastoral courage to prioritize people over protocols.

By promoting welcome at the parish, we encourage Christian inclusion. It manifests itself in simple and persistent gestures. These practices help families experience faith as a force for social and emotional transformation.

Divine compassion, healing, and transformation in the message of Matthew 9:9-13

In this passage we see the divine compassion In simple gestures: a call, a meal, a listening ear. The text shows Jesus' mission as a care that seeks to restore lives. This mission generates healing and transformation at the personal and community level.

Jesus uses the image of the doctor and the sick to explain his purpose. When he says that the sick need a doctor, he speaks of a healing beyond the physical. This metaphor illuminates pastoral practice: presence, merciful diagnosis, and spiritual accompaniment.

How does mercy translate into practical change? Accompanying someone in pain requires listening and concrete actions. Devotional materials, such as those from the Archdiocese of Brasília, suggest prayer and meditation to pave the way for genuine conversion. This work fosters... repentance and forgiveness, Steps towards reconciliation.

Testimonies from communities show that genuine encounters with Jesus change lives. People involved in social programs say they have re-established family ties and regained dignity. For families, simple practices—such as sharing stories, forgiveness rituals, and mutual support—promote... healing and transformation lasting.

What concrete actions can we take in the parish? It is suggested to prioritize pastoral care and create listening groups. Also, to train agents who understand how to care. Projects that value social reintegration and affective education create spaces where repentance and forgiveness They become community experiences.

Encountering Jesus is a source of hope for the marginalized. divine compassion It inspires policies and practices that welcome without judgment. Thus, liturgical tradition and contemporary testimonies come together in a pastoral approach focused on holistic healing, restoration of bonds, and commitment to human dignity.

Theological and liturgical interpretations of the passage

This section offers resources for celebrating and meditating on Mt 9,9-13 in community. We bring together theological perspectives and liturgical practices.

They help priests, ministers, and families integrate the message of mercy into pastoral and domestic life.

Practical and homiletical readings

• Catholic readings They emphasize the mercy of Jesus as an answer to legalism. Texts from the Paulines and the Archdiocese of Brasília highlight this relevance.
• In the homiletic collections, simple questions are posed: who are the "publicans" of today? How does our table represent inclusion?
• These questions encourage conversation and create engagement among the participants.

Sources and exegesis

• A biblical exegesis It combines old and modern readings. Fathers of the Church They saw in the episode a pastoral model of encounter and healing.
• Current commentaries delve into social and ritual factors. They discuss the identification of Matthew/Levi in traditions and textual criticism.

Guidelines for liturgical use

• O liturgical use It is diverse: it appears in opening prayers, meditations, and homilies. The CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops) uses it in the 13th Week of Ordinary Time, demonstrating its regular application.
• Proposals of prayer with Matthew 9,Verses 9-13 include invocations to the Spirit, rites of family forgiveness, and communal thanksgivings.
• Materials from the Archdiocese present concrete ways of blessing and giving thanks.

Practical suggestions for celebration

1. Begin with a brief reading and silence so that the assembly understands the scene of the calling.
2. Offer an exegesis that connects Hosea 6:6 to Jesus' pronouncement. Use language accessible to both children and adults.
3. Invite families to respond with a simple gesture of welcome, such as a short prayer or an extended sign of peace.

These guidelines balance theological fidelity and pastoral sensitivity. The goal is to transform the message into the practice of communion and service in Brazilian communities.

Pastoral applications and practices for communities in Brazil.

Matthew's scene at the table inspires concrete actions in our parishes. We want to propose simple and effective ways to translate mercy into gestures.

These gestures range from welcoming people at the church door to social reintegration projects. These practices strengthen family unity and community trust.

How to promote the inclusion of marginalized people in the parish.

• Create welcoming teams made up of volunteers trained in listening and initial guidance.
• Provide spaces for eating and listening, with fixed hours and announcements in parish notices.
• Organize home visits and visits to shelters, following the CNBB's guidelines on listening and respect.
• Establish partnerships with local social services and NGOs, such as social assistance organizations and community kitchens.

Training for pastoral agents: avoiding judgment and prioritizing mercy.

• Offer courses in training of pastoral agents that address empathy, active listening, and non-stigmatizing language.
• Integrate themes of inclusive pastoral care into catechesis and ongoing training for volunteers.
• To promote reflection meetings based on liturgical texts from the CNBB (National Conference of Brazilian Bishops) and materials from Paulinas and the Archdiocese of Brasília.
• Include practices of affective and sacramental care, with supervision and spaces for sharing among caregivers.

Social projects inspired by Matthew 9:9-13: inclusion, healing, and human development.

• To develop social projects Places that combine food, psychosocial support, and guidance for reintegration into the workforce.
• Implement recovery and family support groups that promote restorative justice and community bonds.
• To plan integrated social reintegration actions in partnership with public agencies and civil organizations.
• Documenting results and forming exchange networks between parishes to multiply good practices.

These initiatives show how the pastoral work in Brazil can be faithful to Jesus' calling. They create welcoming spaces for marginalized people and promote Inclusion and human development.

When the community invests in training of pastoral agents and in social projects, She transforms compassion into action, healing, and hope.

Conclusion

Upon finishing the reading of Matthew 9:9-13, we see that love message Jesus is at the center of the narrative. The liturgical emphasis on mercy reminds us that encountering Jesus is an invitation to repentance. It is not a catalog of empty rules.

This review helps families and communities focus the Christian mission on concrete acts of welcome. Devotional and pastoral materials reinforce this. divine compassion as a model for action.

Prayer, meditation, and transformation through service are ways of living out this compassion. When the church chooses to learn mercy instead of maintaining fruitless rituals, it opens space for real processes of conversion. Thus, Matthew 9:9-13 becomes a practical call to form open hearts.

For Christian families in Brazil, the challenge is to live this love message Every day. They should practice forgiveness, help those who suffer, and promote actions of inclusion and healing. The encounter with Jesus reaches the marginalized and calls us to active compassion.

May our parishes be schools of mercy, where repentance and forgiveness generate new life.