First Reading: Eph 4:1-7. 11-13; Psalm: 19. R. v. 5a; Gospel: Mt 9:9-13

GOD SEES BEYOND OUR WEAKNESSES

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Matthew was a publican because the taxes he collected were public funds. His people hated him not just because he was a tax collector but also because he chose to work with the foreign Roman government against his own people. Worst still, tax collectors were hated by the people because they collected taxes more than required and remit the required amount to the government while they kept the surplus for themselves. So, Matthew was not only hated for his alliance with the Roman government whom the Jews detested, but also for his complicity in cheating and extorting his own people.

But apparently Matthew was not fulfilled with his job and how his people perceived him. He appeared to be stuck with the job and was scared to quit for fear of not being accepted back by his own people and reintegrated into the larger community. If Matthew loved his job and was fulfilled in it, he wouldn’t abandon it to follow Jesus when Jesus beckoned on him. After all, Jesus did not hypnotise or coerce Matthew to follow him. Obviously, Jesus who sees the depths of our hearts saw in Matthew a man stuck in a dilemma and decided to rescue him by calling him to be his apostle.

This is the beautiful thing about God. God sees beyond our weaknesses. God is not so much concerned about who we are now but trusts in whom we are capable of becoming tomorrow. And this is how we should also see one another. A lot of people out there want to change for good but our judgmental attitudes have kept them at bay. We can be kind enough to understand that no human being is too bad beyond redemption. As far as God’s grace is always available, nothing is impossible.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to look beyond our imperfections to see what we are capable of become when we choose to follow you. Amen.