DAILY HOMILIES #Matthew

Man’s opinion about you may be damaging but it is God’s opinion that matters. The name people call you is just an identity, it does not define your essence. The fact that people are laughing at you or insulting you does not make you a loser. Let God have the last word.

Jesus said: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Am I the kind of righteous person Jesus was referring to? Am I full of myself? Do I judge and condemn others knowing full well my own hypocrisy? Do I see myself as complete, perfect, holy, and immune from mistakes? How often do I take out time to examine my conscience? Am I willing am I to learn from other people’s mistakes or do I consider it more important to publicize these mistakes? Stop pointing fingers, start asking yourself: “If that were me, would I have done better?”

As we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew today, we not only reflect on lessons to be learnt from the manner of his call, we also reflect on the fact that God has called each of us as well through the various gifts and talents he bestowed upon us.

While people were busy pointing fingers, Jesus was busy winning a soul to himself. While others were calling names, Matthew was busy examining his conscience. In the end, this same Matthew became one of the greatest Evangelists of all time.