Basic HTML Version
F
EAST
OF
S
T
. M
ATTHEW
, A
POSTLE
AND
E
VANGELIST
1 Zep 3:1-2, 9-13
Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23
Matthew 21:28-32
S
UMMARY
All are called to serve God in his or her unique way and sufficient
grace is given to each of us to carry out our ministry. Christ˅s mes-
sage will go out to all the earth through us, His disciples. We are all
worthy to be Christ˅s disciples for he called not the righteous, but
sinners.
R
EFLECTION
While there are many schools of thought on the author of the book of
Matthew in the Bible, there is no dispute as to the calling of Matthew
by Jesus and the subsequent banquet he hosted for Jesus and the
other disciples where Matthew˅s fellow tax collectors and other
ˈsinnersˉ were also guests. Matthew˅s immediate acceptance of Je-
sus˅ call meant he gave up a lucrative profession, his friends, indeed
his whole way of life, to follow Jesus to an unknown future. He was
used to the good life. Matthew was an educated man with a secure
job. While being a tax collector for the Romans meant being shunned
by the Pharisees, it also had its perks. But Matthew did not hesitate.
He rejoiced in being chosen. The gospels tell us little else about him
and tradition says he preached for about fifteen years in Hebrew
Judea before going to other lands and probably dying as a martyr.
What is my response to Jesus˅ call? How do I react when asked to
exercise my discipleship? None of us have been called to be one of
the Twelve. But all of us have been called to be disciples. We all have