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.”
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Reflection:
Why does Jesus
calls us to follow Him? He calls us out of His great love for us. Jesus doesn’t
want any of us to be eaten alive by the many sins of this world. Jesus doesn’t
want any of us to suffer in hell after our lives in this world is over and done
with already.
We have
in our gospel a sinner named Matthew a corrupt tax collector who was called by
Jesus to follow Him. Even if Matthew is a sinner deep in his heart he knows
Jesus. Matthew knows deep in his heart that in Jesus he would find healing and
forgiveness. Matthew knows deep in His heart that in Jesus he has somebody who
will not condemn him but would be very much willing to listen to his desire to
repent and become His follower.
Therefore,
when Jesus told Matthew to follow Him (Matthew 9:9) he immediately left
everything behind him and followed Jesus. When Matthew heard Jesus telling him
to follow Him, Matthew heard the sweetest words that he would ever hear in his
entire life. It made Matthew whole once again for he has been broken by sin
throughout his adult life.
Perhaps
Matthew burst into tears when he heard Jesus told him to come and follow Him.
It was tears of unexplained happiness, tears of relief and freedom from the
enslavement of the devil.
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