Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Listen for English
“Why una teacher dey chop with people wey dey collect tax and sinners?” When He hear this, He talk say, “People wey dey well no need doctor, but na sick people need am. Make una go learn wetin these words mean: Na mercy I want, no be sacrifice. I no come to call righteous people, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11–13
Just before this passage wey we quote above, Jesus see Matthew, person wey dey collect tax, as e sit for im tax office dey collect tax. Jesus waka go meet am and talk two simple words: “Follow Me.” Wetin Matthew do? E stand up, follow Jesus, and invite Am come im house to chop. When the Pharisees see this, dem judge am and act without kindness. Dem talk say, “Why una teacher dey chop with people wey dey collect tax and sinners?” The way dem react and the answer wey Jesus later give dem show plenty about how good our Lord be.
When Jesus talk say He “no come to call righteous people, but sinners,” no be people wey truly dey righteous He dey talk about. For example, apart from Jesus, the person wey righteous pass everybody wey dey alive that time na His dear mama. And we fit dey sure say no be only say Jesus call her, but she always answer Am with all her heart. But na people wey “dey see only demself as righteous” Jesus dey talk about. Person wey dey see only imself as righteous na person wey dey think too highly of imself, wey no dey mind God truth, but instead choose to make im own image look better for im own eye and for other people eye. To put am for simple words, to see only yourself as righteous na to believe lie; in fact, na to believe the worst kind of lie. Na the worst kind of lie because this sin dey make person remain stubborn and hold tight to im sin. Person wey dey see only imself as righteous no dey see any need to repent or change im life. Because of this, e no dey open im heart to the Word of God or allow that Word to change am.
Saint Matthew, wey we dey honour today, different. E truly be sinner. Most likely, e get greed and e hold im money too tight for heart. People no too respect tax collectors that time because dem be Jews wey dey work for the Romans, so people see dem as people wey betray their own people. Apart from that, people see dem as thieves because dem often dey force people to pay more than wetin dem suppose collect, so that dem fit put some of the money for their own pocket. Na because of this plenty Jews still dey fear the tax collectors, because dem know say Rome dey support dem for this illegal work.
Wetin dey amazing na say Jesus go meet Matthew, wey be sinner and tax collector, and call am with confidence to become His follower. Most likely, Jesus fit see wetin dey im heart. He know say Matthew no dey happy with im life and e dey find something more. So, as soon as Jesus call am to follow Am, e clear say something happen inside Matthew soul. As e stand up follow our Lord, e show say the spiritual pull wey dey draw am to Jesus strong pass im desire for wealth for this world by far.
This same truth concern each and every one of us. No matter wetin dey attract us, and no matter how we dey try find satisfaction for life, the truth wey pass wetin nature alone fit show us na say na only one thing fit truly satisfy us. We fit get all the money for the world, all the power and high respect wey this world fit give, but deep inside our souls, we still no go find peace until we turn to Jesus and follow Am. Some people learn this truth early for life, some learn am later, and some no ever discover am at all.
Today, think deeply about how your life dey satisfy you. Something dey miss? If na so, look at your goals and the things wey you put first for life. Na wetin you dey spend most of your time dey think about, dey talk about and dey dream about when you dey awake? If no be our Lord fill your mind, your heart and all your desires, then you fit expect say you no go dey satisfied with life. If na so e be, look at the example wey Saint Matthew life give us. E be saint today because e answer Jesus when He invite am to leave im life of sin and greed, so that e fit follow Am for poverty. But inside that poverty for this world and as e leave the things of this world, Saint Matthew become rich beyond measure, and e go remain like that forever for Heaven.
Lord wey be the source of all satisfaction, You dey call all Your people to follow You. Abeg, open my mind and my heart to that call, so that no be only to hear You, but make I still answer You with all my heart. Abeg, help me to free my heart from the things of this world wey dey keep me away from You, so that I fit follow You wherever You lead me. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Meditations on Scripture for Ordinary Time
Saint for Today – Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle, Evangelist
