ST. MATTHEW

 *THURSDAY, September 21, 2023* 


Weekday (24)


 *Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist - Feast* 



First Reading. Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13

Psalm 19:2-5

Gospel. Matthew 9:9-13


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


 *LIFE IS A VOCATION: GOD CALLS, AND MAN RESPONDS.* 


My dear, do you know that all of us are called? Yes, I mean YOU & I

God calls you and me.

Now, listen attentively 😆


***That you are alive today is a call to LIFE

***That you could relate with others, it's a call to LOVE

***That you could recognize and pray  God is a call to HOLINESS

***That you could get married, it's a call to partake in the PRO-CREATIVE MISSION OF GOD

***That you could dedicate your life to evangelism is a call to partake in the SALVIFIC MISSION OF CHRIST.


Let me summarize the above in a short form.


That you have LIFE ....... It's a call

That you have family and friends... It's a call

That you recognize God........... It's a call

That you marry.............. It's a call

That you are a Priest/Pastor/Evangelist... It's a call


Invariably, LIFE IS A VOCATION.

So, God who gives LIFE has called, and no one should say his call is better than the others. Although, it depends on man to respond to God's call or not.

However, it may interest you to know that it is not all He calls that respond


God's call is paramount, but man's response is decisive.


Naturally, you call to yourself the person whom you love, which is the same way God calls us to his side because of the love He has for us.


So, God's call is not meant for some categories of people, it is meant for all. More reason Jesus said, I have come to call the sinners and not the righteous. Those who feel they are "born again" in our modern time, are simply saying they do not need the call of Jesus. Such persons are claiming that they are not sick, so they do not need the divine doctor Jesus.


However, if we know that we are sinners, and never claim to be holier than thou, then Jesus' call is for us. 


On the contrary, please 🙏, do not look down on others even though you know such persons are not doing well. You are not to judge, but allow God to do that.


So, anybody who looks down on others to be a sinner is acting like the Pharisees who saw Jesus eating with Mathew the tax collector, and started to reprimand Him. What they were trying to portray is that Jesus is too righteous to be eating and drinking with sinners.


This action of the Pharisees is very much in our midst today. It is very strong in the church today. For instance, Charismatic members would see the Legion of Mary and other pious societies in the church as not being as holy as they are, just because some felt speaking and praying in tongue is holiness, while the Legion of Mary and other societies will be attacking Charismatic that they are not following the church's teachings. In all of these attitudes, what do we gain from it, if not seeking empty praises?


My dear, do not lose hope, God calls, but we may not know He calls because of many distractions surrounding us. The same distraction surrounded Mathew when Jesus visited and dined with him. He, Mathew did not allow those distractions to stop him from following Jesus, he responded positively and even became one of his disciples, and that is the privilege we have today to celebrate him. So,  kindly respond positively to God's Call and invitation. 


Meanwhile, one of the ways of responding to this call of God is expressed by St. Paul in today's first reading by saying, I implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation (Calling). Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness, and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all, and within all.


Whoever acts according to the instructions in today's first reading, simply means that such a person is responding to God's call.


Let us respond in our actions and attitudes towards others. 

God's call is first to Holiness, and so we all are called to holiness, and some of the means to attain holiness are living a good, simple, and humble life and reaching out to others in the same manner.


May St. Mathew continue to be interceding for us all.


 *Peace ✌️ be with you,* 


 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.*

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