St. Matthew, Apostle, Monday – 21st September 2020 — Gospel: Mt 9,9-13
Fellowship that transforms
Jesus calls Matthew to follow him, yet Jesus follows Matthew and the sinners to the table (Mt 9,9-10). Jesus had a knack for doing exactly the opposite of what everyone expected. Unlike most of his detractors, he looked beyond the outward appearance of a person or situation. He saw deeper truths and hidden beauty. In Matthew, the tax collector, Jesus saw him as a potential disciple. First Jesus calls Matthew, then in turn, Jesus accepts hospitality in Matthew’s house. There he shares a table with his typical crowd, tax collectors and sinners. Only Jesus’ way of fellowship led Matthew to a transformed life and made him respond to his call enthusiastically. However, the tax collectors and sinners are perceived by the Pharisees as natural companions (9,11). These opponents scorn at Jesus’ company saying, “Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (11,19). But Jesus neither criticizes nor reproves the tax collectors and sinners. He simply eats and drinks with them. He never demands conversion from them, but expresses His preferential option for them (9,12). In calling Matthew to follow him and in following him to his dinner table, Jesus makes it clear that God has a place for even the most hatred of people. He shows that even those people, whom we might reject, have sparks of goodness in them, that when cared for, can begin to burn with God’s love.
