IRRESISTIBLE GRACE OF GOD
What did Matthew see in Jesus that made him instantly ready to leave
everything, including his friends and occupation?
In today's
Responsorial Psalm we acclaim - Their message goes out through all the earth.
Day pours out the word today, and night to night imparts knowledge. Wisdom
speaks to us. God will never fail us. That is the secret of the stars. The hand
that guides eternally through uncharted paths, guides all of us through those
impossible labyrinths of the earthly journey, if we let God in. Let us look at
the heavens and take courage. God is behind and in front of His creation. But
we need to listen now to that message of our Lord, and take it to heart. Jesus
taught us to pray that our Father's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This is the prayer we pray daily. We have the freedom that the sun and the moon
do not have: to choose our direction and to stay or stray from our path. So we
ask that our heavenly Father handles us gently, nudging us into position, and
nursing us along our orbit, so that we do pray and act in faith.
In St. Paul's
letter to the Ephesians he urges them to live in a manner worthy of the call to
receive life in Christ Jesus. This is the call of one hope, one Lord, one faith,
one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in
all.
In calling Matthew,
who the Church honors this day to be one of His disciples, Jesus picked one of
the unlikeliest of people - a tax collector who by profession was despised by
his own people. What did Matthew see in Jesus that made him instantly ready to
leave everything, including his friends and occupation? Matthew's heart was
undoubtedly touched by the irresistible grace of God and a gentle nudge into
the right path! He saw in Jesus the hope
of true friendship and peace with God. In due time Matthew would reach out to
others like himself and invite them to follow the Lord Jesus as fellow
disciples and friends of God. A thirst for true and lasting friendship with God
is what we all need in our lives.
To reach out: Are
we ready to reach outside of your circle of close friends in order to help
others come to know the mercy and kindness of God?
Today in the Gospel
when the Pharisees challenged Jesus unorthodox behavior in eating with public
sinners, Jesus' defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn't need to visit
healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought
out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole
person-body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and Good
Shepherd to care for His people and to restore them to wholeness of life.
Do you thank God
for the great mercy He has shown to you? Ask the Lord to flood your heart with
His love and mercy towards all!