The question lately: what is the significance of "matthewninenine"? Superb inquiry. I would love to elaborate.
Cousin Jacob and I showed up for 6:30 mass at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West, TX. The night was June 7 of 2008. That's a lot of detail, huh? Well, it's the day, time and place that has shaped my life ever since. You see, two days prior I had just returned from a visit in the Bay Area of NorCal, interviewing for a position with YoungLife. After my return back to Texas, I was left with a choice to make: take the leap of faith and move to Pleasanton, CA, or stay close to home and take the job offer in the field I studied at university. Big decision to make. So that night in the pew listening to Father Ed, it became as clear as grandma's plastic wrap on a piece of leftover pecan pie. It was as if God had whispered into my ear: choose yourself, or choose Me.
Sitting there glued to the sermon, Father Ed had shared the passage from the gospel of Matthew, in the ninth chapter, starting at the ninth verse.
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Throughout the ministry of Jesus, we are constantly invited to "just come and see." So in the come-and-see fashion, Jesus reaches out to a tax collector named Matthew (also referred to as Levi in other gospels), who is known as the crook of society, the dishonorable in character, the least popular in profession, by simply saying "follow me." According to scripture, we are not quite sure where Jesus and Matthew went or what they did as they left the tax booth. But the story picks up around food time.
10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.
Hello! Am I missing something here? "Follow me" turns into... please pass the gravy. "Collecting taxes" becomes, for Matthew...witnessing unconditional compassion. Apparently the relationship was established quickly enough to influence Matthew to open his home to a bunch of riff-raff. Ever realized how Jesus was not necessarily invited into the home, yet he invited himself? The point of observation I come to is this: Jesus put himself in that situation. He went to the people who needed him most - the crooks, the prostitutes, the lowly and disreputable characters. Something about the quality, strength and passion of Jesus shook these people in a very non-threatening manner. He offers a peaceful and inviting relationship to Matthew, which is ultimately the exact character that drew me nearer to him.
As I sat in the pew that evening of June 7, God's voice echoed in my mind: "Follow me." Indeed, the calling was clear. God was calling me - the least of many. "Choose yourself, or choose me," he said. Herein lies the vocation of my life. My heart was convicted. Just weeks later I drove across the Arizona/California border and started an adventurous journey of "following" Jesus. Just to add to it, my given name happens to be Matthew. Well, at least that made it easier for me to follow along in the sermon.
Nowadays, I get to share the wonderful journey with my loved ones via blog style. Appropriately named, matthewninenine will always have a special spot in my life, as the story and account of Jesus continue to affect those I now encourage to "just come and see."
No comments:
Post a Comment