MEDICINE WHEN IT'S NEEDED

Jesus, help me look for medicine only when I'm sick! Amen.

Jesus saw a man named Matthew and said, "Follow me," calling him to be an Apostle. Matthew got up and followed Jesus. Later, at dinner, someone asked, "Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor. Go learn about mercy. I came to call sinners, not perfect people."

When you hear adults talk about the medicine they took as kids, you probably get grossed out. Medicine used to taste yucky -- but, today, a lot of it tastes like candy. You might even feel jealous if your brother or sister gets sick and you don't!

Healthy people don't need medicine. If that wasn't obvious, you can hear it straight from Jesus in this week's Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13).

Jesus wasn't known for spending much time with people of great faith. More often, He looked for people who were struggling, who didn't think God cared about them. Like a doctor, Jesus wanted to help them "get better."

Just like you get jealous of a sick sibling who gets to take delicious medicine, the faithful people in Jesus' time felt jealous that Jesus wasn't hanging out with them. Spending time with Him, after all, was like a dose of good medicine!

Once you see that your brother or sister really doesn't feel well, you'll feel less jealous about their "chance" to take medicine. Instead, you're glad you're not sick right now -- and glad that, whenever you are, there's medicine that can help.

In the Gospel story, Jesus pointed out that, whenever people needed Him, He was there to help them feel better. But He also reminded people not to get jealous of those who were sick. "Have mercy," He advised -- and let them take their medicine! 

(06/05/08)