Daily Reflections ...

Today as we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, we are reminded of his encounter with Jesus that caused him to drop his prestigious job, wealth, status (being ‘in’ with the Romans), and the tension with his fellow Jews to instantly follow Jesus. This encounter challenges our perception of who is worthy of God’s grace and who is worthy to be called by God.

Tax collectors in first-century Israel were often viewed as traitors and sinners because they collected taxes on behalf of the Romans who were known to be corrupt and often left many Jews in a precarious financial situation. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to who are our current-day versions of ‘tax collectors’ but just as Jesus associated himself with people whom you wouldn’t think would become his disciples, so too, we also have our judgments and thoughts about certain people in our own circles and communities.

Jesus’ message and invitation to us are clear; we are to extend mercy to those who are “sick”, not “healthy”. Jesus invites us to embrace humility and acknowledge our brokenness, just as Matthew did.

As we reflect and pray today, let’s be reminded that Jesus’ call is for all of us, no matter our past mistakes or societal labels. His grace and mercy are boundless, and He desires to heal and transform our lives. This passage invites us to respond like Matthew, with a willing heart, leaving behind our old ways to follow Jesus and experience the profound healing and grace that only He can offer.

by Arnie Hurdoyal