Matthew 9: 9-13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus Came to Call Sinners
Today’s Gospel reading always makes an impression on me. Matthew is at work, collecting taxes at the customs post, and Jesus invites him to follow him. Matthew just abandons his post, probably losing his job, and goes to have dinner with Jesus, no questions asked. I might have protested and said “But I’m on the clock here! Can it wait a few hours?” Or even “Who are you?”
Matthew follows without hesitation. I’ve always wondered why Matthew seemed so comfortable leaving everything behind to follow Jesus. The Pharisees give us a clue when they ask why Jesus befriends tax collectors and sinners. Society was supposed to shun these people. Maybe Matthew had never been invited anywhere by someone. Maybe he was so thrilled to have someone see him as a friend that it was worth leaving behind his old life.
As a tax collector, Matthew may not have been poor, but he was definitely marginalized. Who are the modern day tax collectors and sinners we avoid? How can the example of Jesus inspire us to befriend someone on the margins? How can we value someone for their innate goodness, rather than being put off by what makes them different? Jesus came to call sinners because we are all sinners. We are all valuable, included, and loved by God.
—Patrice Critchley-Menor has been involved in Catholic social justice ministries for many years. She writes on living Catholic social teaching at Catholic in the 218. She and her husband, Dan have five adult children and live in Duluth, Minnesota.
Prayer
O God, who with untold mercy were pleased to choose as an Apostle Saint Matthew, the tax collector, grant that, sustained by his example and intercession, we may merit to hold firm in following you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
—Collect prayer from today’s Mass