(Eph 4:1-7,11-13; MT 9:9-13) Feast of Saint Matthew.
It’s so easy to talk about the things we love.
Kitties and puppies. Pizza. Family. (Not necessarily in that order).
Today might be a good day to focus on things we don’t love.
Spiders. Snakes. Family. (Again, not necessarily in that order).
But seriously, have you taken a moment to consider the kinds of people who feel the wrath of hatred in our world today?
Bankers. Lawyers. Reporters … these are the people who are often mentioned as the “least loved” not because of who they might be inside, but because of what they represent.
Clearly, it is not fair, nor is it right to judge a man or a woman for what they do in life. But it happens. We are all flawed and sinful humans and we do judge.
And when we judge, it’s apparently easy for many to hate a banker (particularly those who deny you a loan); or a lawyer (especially the one who sues you); or a reporter (but only those who write about things you disagree with. The rest, well, they are OK).
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of St. Matthew, who had one of “those professions” that was generally held in disdain by the society in which he lived.
Matthew was a tax collector. He was a Jew, but he collected taxes for a government that was no friend to the Jews. That means he was considered by most to be a traitor.
And since Jews were the chosen people of God, it wasn’t much of a stretch to consider Matthew as a traitor to God. That put him in a category reserved for pagans, atheists and other “unclean” folks who were to be condemned and avoided.
Then along comes Jesus …
“As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
As he often did, Jesus upends our preconceived notions about what is just and what is right. He ignores the societal pressures and reaches out to the sinner. He dines with him. Treats him with dignity.
By not avoiding him and judging him, Christ found an entry way into this hated tax collector’s heart.
Once inside his heart, Jesus was able to do what he often does … He worked a miracle.
The hated tax collector became a trusted and beloved follower.
And we’re still reading Matthew’s story today!
As Pope Francis begins a week of visitation to Cuba and the United States, we can only imagine what the result will be as he meets with heads of state and others who many view with disdain.
Pope Francis has been – and will continue to be – criticized by those who are shocked that the leader of the Catholic Church would dare visit one country that long ago declared itself as atheist and then another that many feel is moving in that same direction.
And yet, he comes. He will smile (a lot!) … he will embrace … he will challenge. He most certainly will divide, which Jesus did as well.
In the end, Pope Francis will be seeking an entry way into the hearts of many.
Even those bankers and lawyers and reporters.
On this Feast of St. Matthew, we too are challenged to find ways to enter the hearts of those we do not love … those we do not like … those we hate.
After all, what virtue is there to loving only those we love?
Even the pagans do that.
