Daily Reflection – Saint Matthew
Today is Saint Matthew’s feast day, and our Gospel speaks of his conversion. It describes the experience of moving from spiritual dead to spiritual life. Jesus comes to Matthew with a simple command, “Follow me.” This is the simplest and most fundamental aspect of the Christian life. It is what disciples do: they follow, walk after Him, and learn from Him. He rose and followed him. To follow Christ is to enter a greater, richer, and more expansive way of life.
We are reminded today that God’s grace is not reserved for any individual but is available to everyone who responds. As we commemorate the feast of St Matthew, one of the Twelve, his call serves as an indication and guide for all of us on our own journeys of discipleship. God’s call and grace are unconditional and unaffected by merit or demerit, and no one can argue they deserve it. It is a free gift, and God chooses anyone to receive His strength.
God does not always call people who are brilliant, strong, able, noble, perfect, holy, powerful, or great; rather, He brightens, strengthens, enables, ennobles, perfects, sanctifies, empowers, and makes them great. He stands by those who are called, purifying them from their old selves and ways, elevating them to a higher level of dignity, and sanctifying them with His Spirit. He entrusts them with His purpose of liberating and integrating dehumanized mankind, equipping them with His light and might. God who calls them, maintains their endeavors, brings their lives to fruition, and elevates them.
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We as humans, therefore, should not see or label individuals as unworthy of God’s calling. Moreover, despite our shortcomings, may we never forget that God is still capable of using us.
Daily Readings for St. Matthew the Evangelist https://thelivingcompanion.com/daily-readings-september-21-feast-st-matthew-apostle-and-evangelist/
facebook Daily Reflection, Saint Matthew https://web.facebook.com/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Amen