SEPT. 21, 2011: FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW, Apostle (RED)
Readings:
1st READING: EPH 4:1-7, 11-13
Responsorial Psalm: 19:2-5 “THEIR MESSAGE GOES OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH”
GOSPEL: MATT 9:9-13
EVEN SINNERS ARE CALLED AND USED
This Gospel that narrates the calling of Levi will probably come as a surprise to most of us particularly those who may be a tickler for rectitude because Jesus called one of the most hated man in Capernaum.
Tax collectors were mostly Jews whose authority as such came by winning an auction for the right to collect taxes in behalf of the Roman government and in the time of Jesus these tax collectors were notoriously dishonest as they helped themselves from the excessive taxes they collected from the people.
These tax collectors like Levi are provided with an amount they are to remit to Rome and anything they collect in excess of that they are allowed to keep as their commission. They are also given the privilege to determine which are to be taxed such that in addition to the statutory types of taxes such as land tax, income tax, poll tax, Levi and others also collect all sorts of duties on imported and exported goods, travel on main roads, entering marketplaces, towns or harbors. There was a tax on animals, on the number of wheels of carts, taxes on goods bought and even taxes for crossing the bridge.
This explains why tax collectors were so hated that they were classified by the Jews as sinners (v.v. 10-11) who are accused of treason for turning their backs on their countrymen and were regarded as mercenaries working for Rome. These tax collectors were barred from entering synagogue and were considered as unclean.
But through all these negatives that clothed the nature of Levi, Jesus saw there was something in him that could be put to good use. Jesus saw what Levi could become when given the chance to change his life and as he passed by where Levi held office, he gave the despised tax collector the chance of a lifetime. Levi stood up, left whatever he was doing and went with Jesus.
In doing so, Levi who was later renamed as Matthew left a profitable career. Matthew knew what it would cost to follow Jesus whom he must have heard as someone who spoke in authority and healed the sick but never seen in person. When he stood up to follow Jesus, Matthew was stepping into an unknown and there was nothing to return to as he could not go back to tax-collecting unlike Peter, Andrew, James and John who can always go back to fishing if things don’t turn out well with Jesus.
But something happened when Jesus passed by and said “Follow me,” (v.9) This was probably the new life that he was looking for, a leap of faith from being despised to being accepted as he will now be walking with the Son of God. As tax collectors are known to keep a record of their transaction, Jesus gave Matthew who had an eye for detail the opportunity to record their ministry and this resulted in the Gospel with the most number of chapters.
And when he was criticized by the Pharisees for dining with sinners – Matthew and the other tax-collectors – Jesus justified his action saying: “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (v.12 NIV) meaning that Jesus and he is also commanding us now to go where there is a need to bring healing and, where the Gospel must be proclaimed.
But the underlying message in this particular verse is that Jesus is not inviting people who believe that they are already good enough and are not in need of help. What Jesus is pointing out here is that those who are full of themselves and think highly of their talents cannot be saved because the first step in following Jesus is to acknowledge our need for a savior and admit that we don’t have all the answers.
And v.13 “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” should remind us of the time Our Lord found us and called us. To follow Christ requires difficult and at times painful decisions and like Matthew we are being called upon to leave behind the things that keep us from following Christ. St. Paul says in Rom 11:29 “For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” Thus, our calling is to hold on to his hand and simply go where he leads us even to unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and inconvenient territory.
When Matthew stood up and left, he did not bring with him nor offered anything to Jesus. In the same way, Jesus is not interested in our sacrifices because God has said many times that he doesn’t want our gifts and sacrifices when we give them out of ritual or hypocrisy. Mic 6:6-8 “God is not satisfied with offerings; he wants us to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with him.”
The true and authentic Christian life is not a popularity contest because like Matthew, to follow Christ is to turn our backs from the world that we grew up in. At times we will experience hardships, comfort, deprivation and, we will find ourselves poorer in terms of material possessions. Worldly ambitions are thrown out of the window but through it all, following Christ will bring joy and peace and the privilege to become co-heir to the Kingdom of Heaven.
To follow Christ as Matthew did, we are to share the Gospel with the poor, immoral, the deprived and depraved, the outcasts of society and, not just the rich, moral, popular and powerful. The choices that we make will define our nature. I heard Jim Murphy who heads Vera Cruz Publications say at a seminar that we attended in the US that we “need to define ourselves or others will.”
What he meant was that our being Christians must be written all over our nature because “God isn’t interested in penance; he wants a broken and repentant heart” (Psa 51:16-19). “God doesn’t want burnt offerings; he wants our lifelong service” (Psa 40:6-8). “Obedience is far better than sacrifice” (1 Sam 15:22-23).
Like Matthew who left everything behind when he stood up and followed Jesus, are we prepared to do the same? How did we respond when Jesus passed and said in v.9: “Follow me.” How are we going to respond now if Jesus will once again pass and address these same words to us.
(The Gospel of Matthew speak of the Aramaic traditions and intended for a largely Jewish-Christian audience. The Gospel seeks to portray Christianity as consistent with the Jewish tradition and a continuation of it. Tradition holds that Matthew preached in Judea and in Ethiopia where he was martyred. Matthew is symbolized as the winged human being (Ezek 1) that is mentioned in the Roman Canon. Matthew is the patron saint of accountants and customs officers.)
God bless everyone,
Ed and Malou Malay
Presiding Servant Leader (July-December 2011)
Servant Leader for Formation
Member - Catholic Society of Evangelists
104G Marble Townhomes, Shaw Blvd.,
Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Philippines
