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오늘 복음에서 예수님께서 제자로 삼으시는 마태오는 세리입니다. 그 당시 세리들은 백성에게 경멸받았습니다. 이들은 식민 통치를 하는 로마인들의 하수인으로 세금을 거두어 수수료를 챙길 뿐 아니라, 직무상의 권한을 자주 남용하여 부정한 이득을 챙겼기 때문입니다. 동족을 통치하는 로마 제국에 전적으로 헌신하는 가운데 조국의 불행을 이용하여 부를 축적하는 이들은 백성이 보기에 한마디로 매국노였던 것입니다. 그래서 세리는 회당에 들어가는 것도 금지되었고, 불결한 짐승이나 부정한 물건처럼 취급되었습니다. 또 어떠한 경우에도 증인으로 설 수 없었으며, 강도나 살인자와 같은 부류로 인정되었습니다. 그러니 죄인 중의 죄인인 세리 마태오를 예수님께서 당신 제자로 삼으시는 것은 상당히 파격적인 모습이 아닐 수 없습니다. 제자를 선발하는 기준이 당시 사람들이 생각하는 것과는 너무나 달랐기 때문입니다. 율법 학자들은 ‘그 사람이 얼마나 율법을 잘 지킬 수 있는지’를 제자의 선발 기준으로 삼았습니다. 그러나 예수님께는 ‘그 사람이 얼마나 하느님을 찾고 있는지’가 선발 기준이었습니다. 예수님께서는 오늘 복음에서 이렇게 말씀하십니다. “튼튼한 이들에게는 의사가 필요하지 않으나 병든 이들에게는 필요하다.” 곧, 자신이 죄인이며 그 죄를 용서해 줄 수 있는 분께 철저히 매달리지 않으면 죄에서 자유로울 수 없다는 의식 없이는 예수님의 제자가 될 수 없습니다. 우리는 어떻습니까? 예수님의 제자로서 여러 계명을 충실히 따르는 데에만 급급하지 않습니까? 정작 우리가 지녀야 할 점은 계명을 잘 지키는 재량보다도, 예수님께 철저히 매달리는 겸손입니다. |
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아브라함은 이사악의 탄생을 약속받은 곳이기도 한 헤브론의 막펠라 동굴에 아내를 안장하고, 종에게 자신의 고향에 있는 친족 가운데에서 이사악의 아내를 구할 것을 명령합니다. 이사악은 레베카를 아내로 얻음으로써 어머니를 잃은 슬픔에 위로를 얻습니다(제1독서). 예수님께서는 세리 마태오를 제자로 부르실 뿐만 아니라 많은 세리와 죄인과 함께 음식을 나누어 드십니다. 바리사이들은 이를 못마땅하게 여기지만, 예수님께서는 구약의 말씀을 드시며 그들의 생각을 반박하십니다(복음). |
July 5, 2013
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 381
The span of Sarah’s life was one hundred and twenty-seven years. She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her. Then he left the side of his dead one and addressed the Hittites: “Although I am a resident alien among you, sell me from your holdings a piece of property for a burial ground, that I may bury my dead wife.”
After the transaction, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: “Put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him: “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?” “Never take my son back there for any reason,” Abraham told him. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’– he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there. If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!”
A long time later, Isaac went to live in the region of the Negeb. One day toward evening he went out . . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching. Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?” “That is my master,” replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.
The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done. Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her, Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.
R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD, or proclaim all his praises? R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Visit me with your saving help, That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice.I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
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