The call of Matthew has always been one of my favourite gospel passages. I am always consoled when I read the story of this man whom God saw, loved, and called to follow Him and to be one of His own. The passage is striking because it shows the simplicity of Jesus’ call. Indeed, the text simply says that Jesus sees Matthew at the customs post, and then “He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” Just like that! No protocols, no explanations, no giving out of what the plan was and what to “follow me” meant. A simple call and a simple response.
How can we explain the readiness of Matthew to follow Jesus, just like that? How can someone leave everything behind and follow one who simply passes by and calls him? Knowing who Matthew was and what he received from the Lord makes it possible to understand why he responded so readily to Jesus’ call.
A Context to the Matthew’s Response
Matthew was a man who fit the description of those whom the prophet describes in the first reading. He was a tax collector, a man whose job was, as Amos says: “to trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land.” He made a fortune exploiting his own people, charging very high taxes and getting a very substantial commission out of every payment.
Tax collectors were despised by the people. Together with prostitutes and those who had committed adultery, they were considered the worse sinners, and they were not to be associated with. Thus, Matthew’s job allowed him to gain a lot of money, possessions, and security, but also to gain isolation, loneliness, and the rejection of all the people.
So, what does he experience when Jesus passes by and calls him? He experiences love; love as he has probably never experienced before. There it was this very special man, who has manifested through words and deeds that he is holy, that he is good, and he is calling him to be close to him? When everyone has discarded him, ignored him, and judged him, Jesus has manifested to him that he considers him worthy to be a disciple of the Son of God. When he experiences this and realizes that Jesus “did not come to call the righteous but the sinners,” he abandons everything, and immediately he follows him, to the end.
Beyond Biblical Matthew
The story of Matthew is not just an account of what happened to this first-century tax collector, who was found by Jesus and called out of his life of misery and sin to be one of his apostles. This story also speaks about your life and my life. We are Matthew today!
I have experienced this encounter many times in my life with the incomprehensible love of Jesus Christ, who has found me and has called me to be his own, despite my many sins and shortcomings. I am sure that you also have had this experience! I am sure that many times in your life you have heard the call of Jesus Christ inviting you not to focus on your sins: your pride, your anger, your resentments, your greed, your lust, your selfishness, your …but to focus on the fact that He has passed by your life, has seen you, has loved you and has called you to follow him, and to share in His life.
Think of the moments you have heard the word of God, and it has touched you; or when you have gone to confession and have experienced the total forgiveness of your sins; or when you have gone to Mass, and you have left filled with the love of God.
All of these are moments in which Christ has passed by and has reminded you that he did not come for the “goody, goody,” but that he came for the sinners. This is what the Church has announced throughout her whole life: the unconditional love of God for the sinners, for the broken ones, for those who cannot make it; for you and for me.
An Invitation, a Call
I invite you all to see that this gospel also carries with it a call. We are all called, like St. Matthew, to become announcers of this message that we have lived and experienced. We are called to participate in the mission of Christ, and to bring this message to all the people.
May the Lord help us to be witnesses of this love in the midst of this generation! Peace to all of you!
[Readings for Friday Week 13: Amos 8:4-6, 9-12; Matthew 9:9-13]
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