Episode Details

It is the sick who need the doctor. Jesus says this at the end of the gospel of the mass today to celebrate the feast of the evangelist and apostle, namely, St. Matthew. This apostle, just like the rest, was a sinner. He was perceived as a sinner publicly. This is because of his profession as a tax collector. Tax collecting is universally perceived as open to abuse. Collectors take advantage of their authority to harass, threaten, extort money from innocent and well-meaning taxpayers. Anyhow, the Lord shockingly associates with him and the rest of his colleagues in the profession. Jesus justifies his action with a simple question: it is the sick who need the doctor. He implies our being sinners as sick who requires the help of someone who could cure them. Would there be an illness that the divine Doctor would shun or be afraid to attend to? None. In fact, He makes it plain, and He is after sinners to save them.