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Commentary on the Gospel for September 21, 2024
Dear friends,
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, the tax collector turned apostle. Jesus approached him and said, “Follow me.”
Jesus saw Matthew at his work as a tax collector and called him. The Lord has no problem calling anyone, regardless of their condition, their occupation, their sins… Jesus does not look at people’s frailties and weaknesses, but at their hearts. He has not come to seek the “healthy and righteous” but sinners, those who need healing and restoration. Every person needs to find in Jesus relief, comfort, hope, and a reason to live.
Matthew invited Jesus to a meal at his house. And there the Lord went, along with tax collectors and sinners. It was a meal to celebrate the forgiveness and mercy of God, who called everyone to follow Jesus and thus experience the good news that all – without any exclusion – belonged to the family of the children of God. Everyone felt welcomed and respected, no one was excluded, marginalized, or rejected. The presence of Jesus created that atmosphere of closeness, trust, security, and hope. All those guests had a unique experience with Jesus.
This attitude of Jesus is a wake-up call for each of us and for our communities and groups: inclusion and mercy, not exclusion and rejection.
Many times we tend to judge and exclude “sinners” or those different from us. Our parishes and groups need to be inclusive and merciful; with open doors, without conditions, without so much bureaucracy or so many requirements… so that everyone can experience the mercy of God in our communities and groups. And it can be said of our communities and groups “look how they love one another” and thus they will want to join us. Charity and mercy are the best proclamation of the Gospel. The Gospel repeats a few times that when they saw how Jesus acted with the poor and needy they said “He has done everything well and they gave glory to God.”
In this passage, Jesus was surrounded by tax collectors and sinners. Jesus recognized in each of them a human being, beyond their qualities, virtues, and defects. He saw in Matthew – and the other guests – not only the person they were, but the person they could become. The Lord knew each of those guests, and by sharing that meal with them, He wanted to help them change their lives and begin to live what each one could be if they let themselves be guided by Him. “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The past doesn’t matter, the future is what really counts.
We all have “a dream” of what we want to be in life. It’s a matter of making it happen. We have our whole lives to fulfill that dream. But others also play an important role in the realization of my dream. We cannot do without the help and friendship of others.
Your brother in faith,