Matthew 9:9-13
And when Jesus passed on from thence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he arose up and followed him. And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
On the Feast of Saint Matthew, Jesus calls a tax collector to become His disciple. Rather than avoiding sinners, Christ seeks them out and offers them a new beginning. Matthew’s response is immediate and wholehearted. This Gospel reminds us that God’s call can come at unexpected moments and to unexpected people. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. Like Matthew, we are invited to leave behind whatever holds us back and follow Christ faithfully.