January 14.  Sinners.  Jock said, ”Have you ever wondered why so many “tax collectors and sinners” were so keen to follow Jesus? Was it because of a guilty conscience or because they were treated as outcasts, or a genuine conversion to follow Jesus’ way?   What is a sin, and who is a sinner anyway? Matthew just left his job, got up and followed.  Zacheus even offered to make up for anything unjust and pay back what he overcharged as a Roman tax collector.” Paula added, “Admitting you are wrong can be one of the most difficult things to do and then on top of that making up for the wrong is even harder. I think that can even be considered mercy. Sometimes we do have to pay back but that isn’t always expected. Don’t we see the need for that all the time around us, even at home?” Jock said, “Lots of people did go to confession before Christmas but even so for us Catholics confession is about a new beginning, something to consider these days and this month.”   Reflect, share, act, pray.

Scripture.  As he sat at table in his house many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples for there were many who followed him. Jesus said, “ I came not to call the righteous but sinners.” From Mark 2:13-17

Pope Francis.  For human beings to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation, to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands, for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, it’s air and its life, these are sins. To commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God. LS8