Give It Up! Say No to Pharisaical Following

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9).

Consider Matthew. If you’ve ever been excluded by others, you will know something about what Matthew experienced.  He was used to being looked down upon and ostracized because he was a tax collector. Imagine his shock when the teacher who everyone was talking about asked him to join his band of disciples.  He surely wondered how would he fit in with these people who had previously shunned him.  There is only one way he would fit—it is because Jesus himself fit Matthew into his group of disciples. Did Matthew’s presence make for difficult relationships between the disciples?  Undoubtedly. But because Jesus’ call to each one of us is based on who he is and does, not because of who we are and do, he is able to enfold the excluded one into his community.

Prayer- Jesus, I know what it is to be excluded. Thank you for accepting and including me.