St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist (Feast)
by Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.
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." |
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED WEDNESDAY TO ALL!!!
It is a very common scenario to hear negative comments made against people working in the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue). People have biases or prejudices against them. They are always thought of being corrupt and cheaters. To be blunt, they are always suspected of stealing money from the people’s treasury. The BIR therefore is an agency that is seen negatively as a milking cow of unscrupulous people who take advantage of the people’s taxes for their own benefit and other vested interests.
The biases and prejudices we have against tax collectors are not totally different from the time of Jesus. Maybe, they were treated more harshly during the time of Jesus than today. During the time of Jesus they were treated as PUBLIC SINNERS, so being called Publicans. They are counted among the outcasts. They are despised by the people, especially by those who claimed to be religious. The Gospel today presents to us clearly this negative attitude towards them. The Pharisees are complaining and protesting why Jesus and his disciples are eating with them. To them Jesus is doing what is forbidden by their dietary laws and breaks their customary social etiquette. To them Jesus is a law-breaker.
In my reflection about the Gospel yesterday, I pointed out how Jesus broaden his idea of FAMILY that goes beyond blood relations. In today’s Gospel we further see clearly how Jesus is inviting someone to become a member to his FAMILY. What is shocking is that he is not calling someone with a very good personal background and with a good reputation in the community. He calls someone that people despised and reviled. He calls someone that the community considers to be an outcast. In short, Jesus calls someone that his community REJECTS and counts as an OUTSIDER! Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector performing his task in his own tax office, saying “Come follow me.” This invitation defines and clearly manifests the INCLUSIVE character of Jesus family. Jesus’ family is OPEN TO ALL!!! It is open both for the good and the bad, the wicked and the righteous. In a special way, as the Gospel today would highlight, Jesus is searching and inviting those who are “cast out”, the “expelled”, the “ostracized” by the community. This is so because Jesus’ family is meant to be a household for transformation where the members HEAR and ABIDE by his word.
Upon hearing Jesus’ invitation, Matthew FOLLOWS Jesus. Matthew indeed HEARS and ABIDES by Jesus’ word by responding positively to Jesus’ call and leaving behind his corrupt practices as a tax collector. Matthew took the step to become a member of Jesus’ family. It was a step to self-transformation from being corrupt and greedy to become a servant-apostle of the Lord who will sow seeds of the Lord’s message of salvation to others. Matthew follows Jesus because in him he finds CARE, LOVE and MERCY. In Jesus he finds himself whole, healed and valued.
Are we open to Jesus’ invitation to follow him with the clear purpose of opening ourselves to be HEALED from our “brokenness” or “sickness” by the healing hand and merciful heart of our Supreme Physician? Do we also take every opportunity to extend mercy to others so as to make them whole than being vindictive and unforgiving? The Lord makes this declaration, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
For your personal comments, you can reach me through this email: sanolorenz@yahoo.com
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