The Call of Matthew

Today's Reflections

 

The Call of Matthew 

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Mt 9:9-13

⁹As 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. ¹⁰While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹²He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. ¹³Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Reflection:

Follow me. As a tax collector, Matthew is considered ritually impure, a Jewish law offender, a sinner, a traitor. Despised by Jewish society, he is a person whom no one wants to be seen or identified with. But Jesus speaks to Matthew and calls him to be a disciple. Jesus has a fellowship meal with him and his kind—tax collectors and sinners.

Naturally, the Pharisees object. They do not associate with public sinners because they set themselves as standards of righteousness. Lacking compassion, they do not care about the welfare of straying members of society. To them, Jesus also issues the call to follow him and his example. They must have compassion and must not set conditions or criteria in meeting people and making friends. Everybody deserves a second chance. Jesus challenges people to do something to those who are in need of conversion and forgiveness. They must take steps to make other people find God.

Matthew does the right thing in letting his fellow tax collectors and sinners experience the friendship of Jesus in a fellowship meal.

A theologian once remarked,

“No man went to heaven alone;

he must either bring or lead someone in.”