Jesus hand picked His apostles as He walked along saying “follow me.” He knew when to call them and that’s why each of them answered that call, dropped what they were doing, and followed Him. Is the same true for you?
Living Under the Influence
I remember the first time I heard the call. After a few months with this new girlfriend of mine I had been tagging along with her family to church on Sundays just to make a good impression and to spend time with her. But church had no meaning for me and I didn’t understand or even care about the message being preached. I didn’t listen to what was said and I didn’t participate in what was done. The life that I was leading was far from holy and looking back on my sinfulness I can acknowledge my evil ways. The friends I was making were influencing the choices I was making. I was addicted to pornography, practicing pre-marital sex, and drinking my way towards alcoholism. I was living under the influence—the influence of sin.
I was heading down the wrong path and I didn’t even realize it. Sin is a funny thing that way. It’s sin-ister the way we’re tricked in to believing that if it feels good, it’s good for us. Never does it cross our minds that the sins we commit against ourselves and our God are harming us in ways that we could never imagine.
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do… I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” ~ Matthew 9:12b, 13b
That sounds like me. To call me a sinner would be going easy on me at that point of my life. Matthew is someone I could’ve related to if I would’ve known who he was at the time. I was definitely in need of a doctor. I needed someone to hold up a mirror and show me what I was becoming. I needed someone to show me who I was and who I was meant to be.
The Call & the Gift
The first time I heard the call was when I decided to go to Mass one Sunday. I wasn’t just tagging along with the girlfriend this time. I made the conscious decision to go and that’s where I heard the call. The priest’s words were still foreign to me and the rituals and practices of the Church didn’t mean much at this point, but I heard a call to come home. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I answered the call and it’s led me to where I am today. I completely new man. That’s what Jesus, the divine physician, does. He changes our hearts if we allow Him access. St. Paul explains to us:
“Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” ~ Ephesians 4:7
That grace is what makes change possible. It’s a gift of God that opens our eyes and allows us to see. For me the change in lifestyle was easy once I acknowledge it, but it’s not always so effortless.
Your Mission Should You Choose to Accept It
This opportunity is provided to any and all who accept it. After all, that’s why Jesus gave His life on the cross only to “take it up again.” He died and rose from the dead for you. He gave His life so that you might have new life. So why not life your life for Him?
The call that I heard was first to come into the Church, which I did in June of 2008. And by excepting membership into the family of God as His adopted son, I have also answered the call to serve. He gives us all talents that we may use to bring about the Reign of Heaven.
“He gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.” ~ Ephesians 4:11-13
On this Feast of St. Matthew Apostle and Evangelist we remember our brother Matthew and his call to serve. Have you heard the call in your life? Have you answered the call? We all have a part in the Body of Christ. Each of us are an important piece of the puzzle. We all serve a purpose and the Church is incomplete without all it’s pieces. What can you do to build up the Body of Christ? Proclaim the Good News. Live out the Gospel. Be a living witness to the risen Christ!
For the complete Mass readings listed above check out the USCCB website.