Our paragraph topic is: (The call of Matthew) Part 1.
St Matthew in telling us the Gospel, places a note in this verse on how he was called to follow Christ. Matthew was a tax collector. And one day Christ came by his station and said to him, "Follow me." This is a modest entry for a modest man. There was nothing pretentious about his calling. Christ called him and he followed. He was a publican. He was a commoner, with no ties or claims to nobility. And being such, he more than likely collected more than what was owed, some of which he kept. But Christ called him one day and he left it all and followed.
What was his motivation to follow? What moved him to take this bold action? What was it about this man Christ that caused him to leave all and follow? Did Christ have such a charisma that when the people saw him they had to follow? Was Christ such a renowned figure in his time that those who heard him speak were compelled to listen and to follow his commands? Jesus knew something about Matthew that must have led him to call Matthew. Jesus choose Matthew. Matthew did not choose him.
This simple command, follow me, is such a compelling command that it makes one wonder why. If Christ came to collect disciples today, would we follow him? If Christ stood before us and said, follow me, would we leave everything and follow him. Would we leave job, home, friends, money, family, activities, fun, football, parties, fine clothes, everything, to follow him? Would we hesitate to follow? Would we have excuses to follow? Would we need time to think about following? What would be our response, today?
The harvest is great but the workers are few. In our troubled economic times Christ is hiring today. He needs workers. He needs laborers in the field. He needs believers. He needs doctors, lawyers, tax collectors, construction workers, waiters, school teachers, administrators, clerks, supervisors, trash collectors, he needs all. If he called would you follow? He he asked you to lead would you lead? If he asked you to give up all, would you leave all behind? Like Uncle Sam, Christ needs you. If he called today would you hear the call? Would you follow?
St Matthew in telling us the Gospel, places a note in this verse on how he was called to follow Christ. Matthew was a tax collector. And one day Christ came by his station and said to him, "Follow me." This is a modest entry for a modest man. There was nothing pretentious about his calling. Christ called him and he followed. He was a publican. He was a commoner, with no ties or claims to nobility. And being such, he more than likely collected more than what was owed, some of which he kept. But Christ called him one day and he left it all and followed.
What was his motivation to follow? What moved him to take this bold action? What was it about this man Christ that caused him to leave all and follow? Did Christ have such a charisma that when the people saw him they had to follow? Was Christ such a renowned figure in his time that those who heard him speak were compelled to listen and to follow his commands? Jesus knew something about Matthew that must have led him to call Matthew. Jesus choose Matthew. Matthew did not choose him.
This simple command, follow me, is such a compelling command that it makes one wonder why. If Christ came to collect disciples today, would we follow him? If Christ stood before us and said, follow me, would we leave everything and follow him. Would we leave job, home, friends, money, family, activities, fun, football, parties, fine clothes, everything, to follow him? Would we hesitate to follow? Would we have excuses to follow? Would we need time to think about following? What would be our response, today?
The harvest is great but the workers are few. In our troubled economic times Christ is hiring today. He needs workers. He needs laborers in the field. He needs believers. He needs doctors, lawyers, tax collectors, construction workers, waiters, school teachers, administrators, clerks, supervisors, trash collectors, he needs all. If he called would you follow? He he asked you to lead would you lead? If he asked you to give up all, would you leave all behind? Like Uncle Sam, Christ needs you. If he called today would you hear the call? Would you follow?
