Today is the feast of St. Matthew, an apostle and evangelist
and also a former tax collector. Tax
collectors, in Jesus’ time, were despised and among the lowest of the low. They
collected taxes for the Romans who occupied their land and took some of the
proceeds for themselves. They might be likened today to those in public office
or public service who are not about serving their constituents or being
cooperative in creating policies that benefit the common good but are about lining
their pockets and exploiting others for their personal gain. Persons of this nature are, in the words of
Scripture, building “their houses” on sand. When the winds and rains come,
their “houses” will collapse. They are
the unwise stewards cheating their master and who, when the Son of Man comes in
the dead of “night,” are likely to be found wanting.
What about Matthew, then? The Gospel tells us, that, as
Jesus passed by Matthew’s custom post, Jesus noticed him and said: “Follow me.” Matthew’s heart was open to the Lord. Most
likely he had heard of Him and had been pondering His teachings privately. He
was ready and Jesus knew it. “Follow Me,” Jesus says. Matthew left the custom
post and followed the Lord. Not only did he open his heart to Jesus, he also
opened his home as well. Jesus accepted Matthew’s
openness and had a meal with Him and fellow tax collectors, persons in need of
and open to conversion.
Are you and I ready? Are we waiting? Will we leave our “custom
post,” that activity that is unjust, that is exploitative of others or by which
we use another for our personal advantage? Are we ready to change our lives, to let go of that which shuts Jesus out of our lives? Are we ready to follow Jesus and
become missionary disciples? Are we ready to carry out the purpose for which God created us, that is to become servants of others, messengers of His love and mercy and forgiveness, as Matthew did?
