First Reading - Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13
Gospel - Matthew 9:9-13
Every one of us has a calling in life. We may have different responsibilities, professions, gifts and circumstances, but as Christians we share one fundamental vocation: to follow Christ and allow his love to shape the way we live.
In the first reading, St. Paul says, “Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” He then speaks about humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with one another in love. For Paul, our vocation is not something we simply receive; it is something we are called to live every day.
The Gospel gives us a concrete example of this calling in the life of Matthew. Matthew is sitting at the tax booth when Jesus says to him, “Follow me.” Matthew immediately gets up and follows him.
What is striking is that Jesus does not wait for Matthew to become perfect before calling him. Jesus calls him where he is, with his past, his weaknesses and his imperfect life. Matthew responds by getting up and beginning a new journey.
This is often how God works in our lives. We may think that we have to become perfect before we can serve God, but the Gospel shows us the opposite. Jesus calls us first, and his call begins the transformation.
The Pharisees, however, are disturbed because Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” And then he says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Here we see the heart of Jesus' vocation: he comes not to exclude sinners but to call them back to life. He does not approve of sin, but neither does he define a person only by his past. He sees the possibility of transformation.
This connects beautifully with Paul's words about humility, gentleness and patience. If Christ has called us and shown us mercy, then we too are called to show mercy to others. We cannot receive God's mercy and then become people who quickly judge and exclude others.
Matthew's story reminds us that a person's past does not have to determine his future. One encounter with Christ can open a completely new direction.
Therefore, today's readings invite us to ask two questions: What is Christ calling me to today? And how am I responding to the people whom God has placed around me?
Perhaps someone needs our patience. Someone needs forgiveness. Someone needs another opportunity. Someone may simply need us to look beyond their past and recognize their dignity.
Let us remember that we are all people who have been called by Christ and transformed by his mercy. May we, like Matthew, have the courage to get up and follow Jesus, and may we live our vocation with humility, patience, gentleness and mercy.
For Christ does not call perfect people; he calls people and, through his grace, makes them capable of becoming what he desires them to be.
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