Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Meditation: What is God's call on your life? Jesus chose
Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew was
religious or learned, popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none
of those. He chose to live a life of wealth and ease. His profession
was probably the most corrupted and despised by everyone because tax
collectors made themselves wealthy by over-charging and threatening
people if they did not hand over their money to them. What did Jesus
see in Matthew that others did not see? When the prophet Samuel came to
the house of Jesse to anoint the future heir to the throne of
Israel, he bypassed all the first seven sons and chose the last! "God
looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man" he declared.
David's heart was like a compass looking for true north – it pointed to
God. Matthew's heart must have yearned for God, even though he dare not
show his face in a synagogue – the Jewish house of prayer and the study
of Torah – God's law. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax office
–
no doubt counting his day's profit – Jesus spoke only two words –
"follow me". Those two words changed Matthew from a self-serving
profiteer to a God-serving apostle who would bring the treasures of
God's kingdom to the poor and needy.
John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, describes
Matthew's calling: "Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as
he called Peter and John and the rest? He came to each one at a
particular time when he knew that they would respond to him. He came at
a different time to call Matthew when he was assured that Matthew would
surrender to his call. Similarly, he called Paul at a different time
when he was vulnerable, after the resurrection, something like a hunter
going after his quarry. for he who is acquainted with our inmost hearts
and knows the secrets of our minds knows when each one of us is ready
to respond fully. Therefore he did not call them all together at the
beginning, when Matthew was still in a hardened condition. Rather, only
after countless miracles, after his fame spread abroad, did he call
Matthew. He knew Matthew had been softened for full responsiveness."
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating
with
public sinners, Jesus’ defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn’t
need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick.
Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician
seeks healing of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. Jesus
came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people
and
to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied
with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the
very
people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because
they
didn’t want to have anything to do with people not like themselves.
Jesus
stated his mission in unequivocal terms:
I came not to call the
righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were
as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.” (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)
Psalm 119:2,10,20,30,40,131
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with
their
whole heart,
10 With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy
commandments!
20 My soul is consumed with longing for thy ordinances at all times.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before
me.
40 Behold, I long for thy precepts; in thy righteousness give me life!
131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for thy commandments.