A Reflection on the Daily Gospel by Fr. Livingstone
Friday, July 3, 2020
As he went from there Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom-house, and said to him, “Follow me.”; and Matthew rose and followed him. When Jesus was having a meal in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners were seated with him and his disciples. Noticing this, the Pharisees said to his disciples, “Why is it that your teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?” Hearing this he said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Go and learn what this text means, “I require mercy, not sacrifice.” I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”
What was it that Jesus saw in Matthew that others did not? When the prophet Samuel anointed the son of Jesse as the future heir to the throne of Israel he passed by all the other firstborn sons and chose the last. David’s heart was like a compass pointing to God. Matthew’s heart must have yearned for God even though he did not dare to show his face in the synagogue. When Jesus saw Matthew he spoke only two words “follow me.” Those two words changed Matthew’s life forever.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus’s behavior in eating with public sinners his response was quite simple. A physician seeks to heal those who are sick. Jesus is the divine physician and good shepherd who cares for his people and restores them to wholeness of life.
What is God’s call on your life? Jesus chose Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because he was religious or learned, popular or saintly, he was none of those. Jesus called Matthew at the time he knew Matthew would respond.
