Following Christ

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, a tax collector and a very wealthy man, called to ministry with Jesus.  Tax collectors were despised in the Jewish culture. They  were considered sinners in that they cheated the people in their payment of taxes to the Romans.  Jesus spotted Matthew at his tax collecting post and said to Him: “Follow me”(Mt. 9: 9-13).  Matthew immediately left his lucrative business and became a disciple of Jesus.  That, too, abhorred the people. “What was Jesus thinking anyway? Does He not know who this man is?” were probably thoughts that crowded into people’s minds.

 Despised by others but not by the Lord, Matthew began a journey that day that changed his life. He became so immersed in the teachings and life of the Lord Jesus that he stayed with Jesus throughout His public life. Following Jesus’ death and resurrection and the Pentecost experience, Matthew spread the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom here on earth. Matthew gave his life and accepted martyrdom for the faith.

 

You and I may be despised by another or by others but not by the Lord ever!   As Paul says in the first reading of today's liturgy,  Eph 4: 1-7, 11-13, we, God's holy ones--yes, holy, though sinners--are equipped "for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knolwedge of the Son of God, to mature [personhood]. to the extent of the full stature of Christ." That is God's guarantee and our hope in Christ Jesus!  What an awesome God!