Answering The Call
Caravaggio: The Calling of St Matthew
I love conversion stories, and St Matthew's story is one of my favorites. What strikes me is how Matthew himself tells his story in today's Gospel (although he doesn't tell it in the 1st person). He [Jesus], said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed Him. Matthew left everything he was doing at that moment and with his life and followed Jesus. From that moment on there was no going or looking back for him.
It seems to be that way for many of us who have had deep and powerful conversions. When we are so stuck in lives of sin, we may not always want to admit it, but something in us knows that things should not be the way they are; we are waiting for someone to show us a better way, and when we have seemed to hit our lowest point, that's when we hear it: "Follow Me." For it is only at those very low and dark points that we seem to be ready and able to hear the Savior's words. He has and is the better way.
I am not sure if at that moment Matthew had any idea what was ahead of him; I'm sure he didn't, but he knew his life as it was before those words was not working for him. He heard the call and he answered it. That was all that mattered because from then on Jesus would take him the rest of the way.
It is the same for each of us. We too have received a call; we have heard Jesus' words to come and follow Him. It is up to each of us to answer. Each person's response is different, but Our Lord knows what it is that He has called us to do. He knows how He would like each of us to spread the Gospel. We just need to be like Matthew and simply get up and follow Jesus.
Today on St Matthew's feast day, let us ask him to intercede for us in answering Jesus' call.
Comments
We can be so wavering, so inconstant and indecisive. In ourselves we are weak and can do nothing, but in Him we can do everything. The folly of the Cross is the strength and wisdom of the saints. All we need to do is listen to the Lord: "Come, follow Me."
I pray to St. Matthew that I receive God's grace so as to follow his example. Thank you for this lovely post and tribute to this Apostle.
God bless!
But for the rest of us, however,Saint Basil has this warning: "When we hear the Voice of God calling us to virtue, we must not delay. The devil does not advise us to turn entirely from God, but only to put off our conversion to a future time. He steals away our present time and gives us hope of the future. But when that comes, he steals that also in the same manner; and thus by giving us present pleasure, he robs us of our whole life."
WOW! No doubt that is very intelligent deception. Only our Lord can help us see through this.
Thank you for sharing St basil's warning for us. We need to remember that the devil is the father of lies!His promises are empty. As you say- only God can give us the grace to see through this.
God bless!
If we neglect to ask for this grace, we may become like the apostate children of whom Jesus speaks when He says, "Woe to you, apostate children." (Isaias 30:1)- Woe to them who begin to walk in the way of God and afterward forsake it.