Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:9-13
Have we ever
wondered what were the thoughts that crossed the mind of St. Matthew as
he got up from the customs house to follow Jesus?
Was
it apprehension or uncertainty because he was walking away from a stable
and profitable job, although it is not a respectable one?
Or
was it a sense of insecurity and anxiety that from that moment on,
things are not going to be the same anymore in that nothing can be taken
for granted anymore?
But over and above all these
thoughts was the great up-lifting feeling that someone had given him
respect, dignity and self-worth.
In Jesus, St. Matthew saw the mercy and love of God, who came not to call the virtuous, but sinners.
What St. Matthew saw in Jesus, he too wanted to emulate, he wanted to follow, he wanted to become
That
is also what the 1st reading is telling us: that united in faith and
knowledge of the Son of God, we strive to be the Perfect Man, the
perfect person, fully mature with the fullness of Christ.
Jesus showed St. Matthew who and what he can become.
In turn, St. Matthew showed us in his gospel who and what we can become.
As the call of Jesus crosses and echoes in our hearts, let us answer the call like St. Matthew.
Because it is a call to the fullness of Christ Himself, who came to call sinners so that they can become virtuous.