Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, "Follow me." Matthew got up and followed him. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts."
At times we hear stories about people who do some very strange things. In fact, we can hardly believe that anyone could do the things they do. Few weeks ago a man dressed up like Spiderman claimed the Jacques Catier bridge in protest. But as crazy as it seems, we are assured it is true. It just goes to prove that the old saying has some merit - "truth is stranger than fiction".
People do some very strange things. But "truth is stranger than fiction". What about the day Jesus walked up to a tax collector, named Matthew. As you know tax collectors were a despised bunch of people. They fleeced the taxpayer, making sure they made a healthy profit from each person who paid him their dues.
Romans, the occupying enemy forces in Israel at that time. Every one else walked passed the tax collector without giving him a second glance. And if they did happen to look his way, they glared at him and made rude comments and gestures.
What a surprise it was when Jesus just went up to Matthew and regardless of what everyone else thought, Jesus said to him, "Follow me". This rabbi, this holy teacher, invited an open sinner to be one his disciples.
And what a surprise when Matthew left his tax collector’s booth and all the money he was collecting that day and went with Jesus, inviting him to his house for a meal. And even more surprising when Jesus actually went to Matthew’s house and shared a meal with him and other tax collectors – a sign of acceptance and friendship. People could hardly believe that Jesus could eat with sinners.
And even still, what a surprise as we read in the very next chapter that Jesus sent Matthew and the other eleven disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and preach, heal the sick, raise the dead to life and drive out evil spirits. Matthew, who was regarded by everyone else as the scum of the earth, a cheat, a traitor, was called by Jesus to be his assistant, his representative, and so multiply the number of people who would be touched by the preaching and healing of Jesus.
There is no doubt that here we can observe the grace of God at work. When everyone else could only see in Matthew greed and betrayal, a cheat and a fraud, Jesus could see in Matthew a person who needed divine love and grace. Everyone hated Matthew but Jesus was ready to offer undeserved love and forgiveness.
We might ask what had Matthew done to attract Jesus’ attention. We are not told that Matthew had been especially kind that day, maybe had given a few widows a discount when paying their taxes. We don’t hear of Jesus striking a deal with him, "If you give up all up your wicked ways you can come and follow me". Jesus simply reached out to Matthew with the grace-filled call "Follow me". This was unheard of, "but truth is stranger than fiction".
There is something uncomfortable about this story of Jesus’ call to Matthew. There is that one little sentence – "Matthew got up and followed him". The Gospel writers want to give us the impression that there is no hesitation here.
"Shall I follow Jesus or not"?
No discussion about the consequences of going with Jesus.
No question, "Please give me some more details please".
No plea, "Let me pack up and count the day’s takings first".
The gospel writer simply states, "Matthew got up and followed him."
I feel a bit uncomfortable about this kind of response to the call of Jesus, because it seems that anything could happen as a result of Jesus’ call. It’s possible I might do something totally irrational and seemingly irresponsible – like giving up comfort, security, wealth, and safety.
I might do something like Matthew and walk away from a table full of money, or like Peter, James and John who gave up their boats and nets, or Paul who gave up prestige and position. Matthew’s response to Jesus’ call makes us uncomfortable because it caused those people to look at things from a totally different perspective.
Money was no longer important to Matthew – all he wanted to do was follow Jesus. As much as Peter, James and John loved fishing this was no longer the focus of their lives – following Jesus was. Jesus comes with his gracious call and things are never the same again.
There was a man, a graduate of one of the finest medical school. He could have had a high paying practice and lived comfortably. He was also a brilliant musician and could have become famous touring Europe. But instead Albert Schweitzer went to Africa as a medical missionary. When asked why he gave up fame and wealth to work with lepers, he said, "I just had a feeling it was what God wanted me to do." Jesus comes with his gracious call and things are never the same again.
St. Francis left his nobility to work and lived among the poor. Mother Theresa left the comfort of her home and education to minister to the poor of the poorest in Calcutta Jesus comes with his gracious call and things are never the same again.
A woman was struck down with cancer. The treatment was harsh and debilitating. But the cancer went into remission. Now she is carrying out a much valued and appreciated ministry among cancer sufferers, something that had never occurred to her when she was healthy. Jesus comes with his gracious call and things are never the same again.
Jesus calls you and me. He has come to us through the Word of God and through baptism. He has called to us, "Follow me", graciously forgiven us, welcomed us as members of the Kingdom of God, lovingly promised to always be our God in the good times and the bad.
Like the call to Matthew, God has called you and me, in fact he calls us daily to be his disciples, to turn away from all the things that distract us and draw us away from God. Daily he says to you and me "Follow me" and that’s when I start getting a bit worried. If we take what happened to Matthew seriously, then who knows what will happen? If the church takes the call of Jesus seriously, then who knows where it will be led?
As I said before Matthew wasn’t called to be a disciple just to make up numbers. He was soon sent out to announce that the Kingdom of God is near, to heal the sick and raise the dead. He was to go out and speak and act on behalf of Jesus. "Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me", Jesus said.
Jesus hasn’t called us into the church so that we can be comfortable and simply to look after our own needs.
It’s easy for us as individuals and a congregation to put Jesus' call to follow in the too hard basket. We don't like this kind of renewal and revolution much because it upsets our comfortable Christianity. It involves change, renewal, revival, and taking responsibility. It means letting the Holy Spirit change us and set us on fire for the often very difficult tasks he has given to us as his church.
When Jesus called Matthew, Matthew had no idea where this call was going to lead. But as things unfolded he was confident that the grace of God would never let him down. He was certain that Jesus would not ask him to do something that would not receive divine guidance and support.
We recall the last words of Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus had just given the command to go into the whole world and make disciples, baptizing and teaching. And what were Jesus concluding words: "I will be with you always, to the end of the age"? The call to follow Jesus Christ, a call we can not afford to ignore.
Let we do the possible and let God do the impossible.
Amen.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
June 5, 2005