Gospel Reflection for July 4: The Calling of Matthew

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The first people called to follow Jesus are four Jewish fishermen. (Mt 4, 18-22). Now Jesus calls a tax collector,a sinner, a man who is unclean in the eyes of the observant Pharisees. Yet, this man’s name is Matthew, which means gift of God or given by God. And just like the first four men who followed Jesus, Matthew, the tax collector, stands up, leaves the tax office, his source of revenue and without vacillating, against all common sense and worldly wisdom, follows Jesus.
The Calling of St. Matthew – Hendrick Terbrugghen
What would have been like to look into the deep, piercing eyes of Jesus which looked right into my soul with insight but also with profound love? No need to pretend. Jesus would have loved me just as I am  because he embraced the broken, marginalized, sick ones who realized that they were hungry and empty and needed the love and healing power of God.

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