Tuesday Reflection written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092121.cfm
A common tale is told in Asia about a king who was unhappy. He had everything, and yet he could not figure out the cause of his unhappiness. His doctors tried many therapies and failed to find a cure for the king’s melancholy. Finally, the king’s astrologer told him that if he wore the shirt of the happiest man in his land, he would be happy. The king sent his ministers all over the land, but every person seemed to have some discontent brewing in their life.
One day, when the king went hunting in the forest, he found a man whistling while chopping wood. The king inquired: “My friend, would you like a better job or more money?” The woodcutter replied: “No. I have a good wife and children, a job I enjoy, and a roof over my head. I have all that I need.” The king realized that this was the man he was looking for; unfortunately, the man did not own a shirt!
Today we remember a man who, like this king, was probably not a happy camper, either. How could this person named Matthew be happy? He was a Jewish man who miscalculated, unfairly raised and unscrupulously collected taxes from his own fellow Jews to keep the Roman oppressors in business. Because he burdened the poor by his profession, he was an outcast among his own people. Then, one day, Jesus stood in his midst and deliberately said to him: “Follow Me”. Matthew did so immediately and over the course of the rest of his life, he came to realize that his happiness rested in this man, Jesus, who was humble, forgiving, selfless, poor in spirit…and perhaps, like the man in our story who lived simply, didn’t own a shirt of his own!
Matthew’s conversion from tax collector to disciple filled his heart immediately with such joy and true happiness that we are told he prepared a huge banquet to celebrate his new life. Matthew is a ray of hope today for all who might be tempted to doubt or despair. He reminds us that Jesus came to call all of us sinners and bestow on us God’s mercy and peace. Jesus’ loving healing is the true source of our happiness.
So today we express our gratitude to St. Matthew whose heart heard the voice of the Lord one day when he least expected it. Thankfully, he didn’t turn a deaf ear. If he had, we would never have known the Word of God according to Matthew for the past 2,000 years. Instead, Matthew paid the cost of discipleship and gave up his reputation, his status, and his security to follow Jesus. His reward was true happiness in this world and the next.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
