By Pritam Dangwar csc –
Readings: Eph 4: 1-7,11-13; Mt 9: 9-13
The readings of today invite us to follow Christ. In order to follow him, we need to strengthen our faith in him. In the first reading, St. Paul invites us to lead a life in accordance with the moral values and asks us to be sociable in our daily conduct. We are blessed with many talents and moved by the Spirit to act upon them for good purposes. It is through the grace of God that everything is possible, and the Spirit calls us to be one with God and manifest his kingdom here among us.
The gospel reading portrays the call of Matthew, a sinner, and a tax collector. The word “Follow me” is something significant in our life as a religious and a Christian. It reminds us of our baptism in the initial stage of our life and then onwards we are initiated to follow Christ.
In this small passage we find that Jesus is calling a man who is unacceptable among his fellow countrymen. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of Mathew to see life with a broader view and humble ourselves to become an ordinary man to accept the reality of life. Though Matthew was a sinner and a tax collector, Lord Jesus shines a light of hope on him and encourages us to follow him to live a virtuous life. Let us also keep in mind that God does not call the qualified rather calls us all to be qualified. As we discover our own shortcomings, limitations and imperfections, we ask God’s grace to help us become a man of ordinary faith like Matthew, ready to follow and accept the invitation of Jesus every moment of our lives.