The Gospel according to St. Luke briefly but eloquently summarizes the vocation of Mathew: “After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his booth. “Follow me, Jesussaid to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him.” (Lk. 5: 27-28). Since Mathew, a Jew, cooperated with the Pagan Government of Rome, he was considered a traitor to the Jewish cause and as such shunned by the people at large. Moreover, tax collectors fleeced the ordinary citizens with exorbitant taxation and enriched themselves. The political authorities closed their eyes to any such exploitation provided Rome received its fixed annual share. As a result all tax collectors were branded as “sinners” and “Publicans.” In short, they were hated by everyone in general for their extortion and detested by the devout Jews in particular for their lack of patriotism.
Mathew felt greatly exhilarated at being invited to follow Jesus, the most reputed leader of the time. His response was prompt and total as he instantly followed him, leaving everything then and there. This is discipleship of the highest order. Since joy shared is joy doubled, he threw in a public banquet for everybody – tax collectors and orthodox Jews. When the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were critical of Jesus for associating himself freely with the “tax collectors and sinners,” He was quick to seize the opportunity to teach them a meaningful principle: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mt.9: 11-13). Ancient writers are of the opinion that Mathew preached the Gospel in Ethiopia and died as a martyr for his Master.
Reflection: Though Mathew had left every thing to follow Jesus, he had carried with him one thing – his powerful pen. He placed this talent before Jesus, who blessed it so that he might write the Gospel the authorship of which is attributed to him. If we present our innate talents at the feet of Jesus to be blessed by him, the outcome would be beyond our imagination.
Levi got up, left everything and followed him. (Lk.5: 28)
