Friday July 5, 2024

Matthew 9:1-8

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

Now if Jesus had done a little bit of background check maybe things would have not happened like this. A little google search on Jesus part he would have found out that this man was not just sitting at the customs house, he was in fact the tax guy. A little google search Jesus would have found that Matthew had stolen, disappointed, hurt some people and he was not liked.

But you gotta give it to someone who stands proudly by the customs house. This man is owning his sin and asking “what now? Will you give me a second chance?”

We have all had unpleasant experiences and you know…. Thank God for them. Those experiences are the very place of sacrament, the very place we meet God. So go to your customer house and from the depths of shame and guilt hear it for the first time. My beloved child, stop standing in shame and come follow me.