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Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13
As 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.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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He said to him, “Follow me.”
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Saint Matthew had little idea who Jesus was. Certainly, this wasn’t the first time Matthew heard about him; talk was circulating throughout the town that there was a miracle worker among them.
It seems almost natural that when Jesus invited Matthew to follow him, he’d jump at the idea. He must’ve felt special; chosen.
But Matthew had no idea that day that he would help to change the world. He had no idea his heart would be transformed; no idea of the risk that lay ahead; no idea of the highs nor the lows.
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All he knew was this: Jesus of Nazareth chose him by name.
It’s all Matthew needed to know.
It’s all we need to know.
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I’m sure looking back over our lives, there were times when we would’ve leapt for joy if we knew our future, and others when we would’ve shrieked in fear.
The same may be true if we knew what was in store for us tomorrow or the day after.
But God asks one thing of us: to focus on the present.
As Jesus tells us pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
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Regardless of what lies ahead, rest assured the Lord is with us. As it’s written in the Psalms, “The Lord watches over the footsteps of his faithful ones.”
Saint Matthew, pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) GGUSocial.com (2) Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio (3) On Wings of Eagles