For 21 September 2026, The Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist, based on Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13, sent in from Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Linda Lysakowski
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, MTS-FT is an Adrian Dominican Associate and an Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive, who hold a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of San Diego. She is active in St Bernadette Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO, and in the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph. She is the author of approximately forty books. On a personal level, she is the mother of four living children, grandmother of nine, great grandmother of 14, and great-great grandmother of two.
General editor: Scott Steinkerchner, OP. TheWord is a free service of the Order of Preachers around the world. You can donate via PayPal to support our mission using the QR code or this link.
21 Sep 2026
0 CommentsMercy for Everyone
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
About Linda Lysakowski
Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, MTS-FT is an Adrian Dominican Associate and an Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive, who hold a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from the Franciscan School of Theology at University of San Diego. She is active in St Bernadette Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO, and in the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph. She is the author of approximately forty books. On a personal level, she is the mother of four living children, grandmother of nine, great grandmother of 14, and great-great grandmother of two.