The Grace Factor

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

 

~~~ Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matthew 9:9-13 ~~~

 

...live in a manner worthy of the call you have received...

Jesus invited his first twelve from different walks of life and occupations.
They were not all fishermen; Jesus wanted diversity.
He chooses Matthew called Levi, the tax collector.
Yesterday we looked at the issue of money and here
we see Jesus choosing a man who deals with money
every day....it is his  job.

Tax collectors were not known for their honesty.
They routinely took advantage of the people because they could.
They had a position of authority
and no one wanted to associate with the tax collectors.

As soon as Jesus calls out to Matthew to follow him,
 he leaves behind his love of money.
Somehow he knew following Jesus was the right thing for his future.
In accepting his call he began to change his life.
Following Jesus meant he began to live a life worthy of the call.
He had knowledge of money and finances but now
he could see something higher.
Now he would experience the better way to live life.
He would see, as he accompanied Jesus, how
to treat others with love and mercy.
 

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

 

 Matthew was given grace by God, but first
he had to accept the invitation.
Jesus is always extending the invitation to us to follow him.
Some respond quickly as Matthew did
others take a little more time like Paul.
 

 

Jesus surrounded himself with people who had different gifts.
For some Jesus needed to assure them that he would provide
the necessary grace for them to realize their gifts.  

Those who knew Matthew were surprised when they saw him with Jesus.
Jesus dined and socialized with those who were considered
sinners and outcasts;
for this he was judged and criticized. 

 

 Jesus told his critics...
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

 That would be us...Jesus came to call us, we are all sinners.

He calls us and redeems us making us able to live worthy of his call.
We are only worthy of his call if we humbly accept his abundant grace.

His grace is pouring down upon us, open your heart and let it overflow.
Never under estimate the power of his grace.

Jesus Blesses those he calls with his Grace.
It is only by this grace that we can
begin to live in a manner worthy of his call.

You are called. You are given grace.
Now it is up to you.
Will you live in a manner worthy of your call? 

Jesus...the Original EOE

Feast of Saint Matthew

 

~~~ Eph 4:1-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matt 9: 9-13 ~~~

 

We are familiar with Matthew's calling to come follow Jesus.

He was the tax collector...one of the least likely to be chosen by Jesus.

The Jews wanted nothing to do with the tax collectors

because of the way they made their money.

They were not looked upon a desirable people, but more as crooks.

 

We should keep in mind that Jesus was a Jew. He was brought up in a typical Jewish family. He was taought the Jewish prayers and customs.

There are many cases when Jesus purposely does something interpreted as contrary to his Jewish upbringing.

Choosing Matthew to join his inner circle would have been noticed as curious at best.

IT is ven more astounding that Matthew went on to become one of the four Evangelist.

 

As a tax collector, Matthew would have been well educated, fluent in Aramaic and Greek, and considerable acquired wealth.

Tax collectors were viewed as sinners by the other Jews.

 

It is not only remarkable that Jesus called Matthew,

but it is even more remarkable that he immediately left his post.

Matthew heard the call from Jesus, closed up shop,

packed up his collection ledgers, and became a disciple. 

 

Soon after joining Jesus' young group,

Matthew invites Jesus to his house for a feast.

As we know sharing a meal together was a sign of inclusion and welcoming.

This gesture of inclusion infuriated the Scribes and Pharisees,

criticizing him for eating with tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus was prompt to answer; he had come to eat with sinners.

 

"...I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

 

 

Matthew's writings is the first of the four synoptic gospels.

Origen believes it actually was the first written gospel account.

Matthew is recognized as a Saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox,

Lutheran, and Anglican churches.

His relics are preserved in the Salerno Cathedral in Italy.

 

Today Paul tells the Ephesians and us...

 

"...(I) urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace..."

 

Matthew immediately rises to his calling and leaves his career

working for the establishment.

Matthew may have had previous exposure to Jesus though friends

and family members.

 

Jesus may have been preparing Matthew to be called

in many subtle ways.

He may have been pre-conditioned

to embrace his calling before it came.

Of course he did have his free will

and his intelligence to assist his decision making.

 

Maybe Matthew had some doubts about this new guy (Jesus)

 and his strange ways of looking at the world.

Maybe Matthew was waiting to be called

 before giving up his job security.

I would imagine even back then job security was important.

 

Jesus carefully handpicked his twelve apostles so that they

were a cross representation of all of us.

He picked fisherman and a tax collector and made them equal in his ministry.

Jesus considered the talents and gifts of each person he called,

 thereby creating a balanced group of loyal followers.

 

 

Just as Peter could relate to those who were hard working fishermen,

Matthew could speak to the professionals

and those in positions of authority.

 

It is easy to see that Jesus valued diversity...

just look at who he associated with.

 

You know that old childhood phrase:

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.

 

 Jesus and his friends did not fit into any prescribed category.

Jesus was then and always be all inclusive...

sinner or saint, rich or poor, fisherman or tax collector...

Jesus was the first equal opportunity employer.

 

That should make each of us feel really good about following Jesus.

No matter who you are, Jesus has a job for you.

Working for Jesus, you will have job security to last a lifetime

and then some.

Who can resist his offer?

Matthew lived in a manner worthy of his call...

Are You?