Mt 9, 9-13
Every time I hear St. Matthew himself recount his calling, there is something that touches me so much. In this autobiography, there are three very meaningful details:
The first detail: St. Matthew recounts: “As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.” St. Matthew clearly states his name and his profession as a tax collector. He identifies himself as a sinner, unworthy of the apostolic calling. But God’s love is always greater, surpassing those limits. Commenting on this, St. Jerome says: “Matthew identifies himself as a sinful tax collector to tell his readers that no one should despair of his own salvation, because he himself suddenly changed from a tax collector to an apostle.” This detail makes us more certain of God’s love in choosing us!
The second detail is Matthew's response: when he heard the Lord say to him: "Follow me!" He got up and followed Him. Saint Matthew was convinced that despite being unworthy and sinful, the important thing is to know how to respond to God's love, to know how to stand up and follow Him. The past is not as important as the present; sin is not as important as conversion. After following the Lord, Matthew was transformed miraculously: from a tax collector to an apostle, especially to an evangelist and martyr in Ethiopia. That is the miracle of grace combined with human cooperation in the saint!
The third detail is summarized in the Lord's saying: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
God of Jesus is the God of mercy. He came to save and heal. He came to bring God's mercy to humanity, especially to sinners. When he was elected, Pope Francis chose as his motto: Miserando atque eligendo - the lowly but chosen one". He wants the Church to focus on witnessing to God's mercy. That is the pastoral direction takes God's mercy as the center of the new evangelization. Because, only God's mercy can save humanity.
May each of us also know how to experience and witness God's mercy to our brothers and sisters like saint Mattheu. Amen!
Peter Nguyen Van Huong
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