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In today’s Gospel we hear
about the call of Matthew. As a tax collector Matthew was one of the few
disciples possessed of wealth. He was also hated by his fellow Jesus as
a collaborator with the Roman army of occupation. Nevertheless when
Jesus passed by and said, “Follow me,” Matthew left his wealth to be
with the Lord. In his joy Matthew invited his new friends to his home
for dinner. There Jesus and his disciples dined with other tax
collectors and those who were considered outsider of the law. When the
Pharisees observed this they were scandalized and asked, “Why does your
teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Before the disciples could
frame answer Jesus responded, “Those who are well do not need a
physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I
desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but
sinners.”
Strict observers of the law, the Pharisees considered themselves
justified before God. They were also quite sure that whoever did not
follow the law in the exact same manner was most certainly not
justified. We must not fall into that same trap. Following the rules
does not justify us before God, only God can justify us. No matter what
we do we will always be his creatures and he will always be our God. He
will never be indebted to us for our hard work or faithfulness. Jesus
taught us that the Father has already loved us and calls us to be his
sons and daughters in Christ. Because the Father loved us first in
Christ, now everything we do, we do in Christ for love of the Father.
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