“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9
There is little said about this call of Matthew. Matthew seems to just be going about his job of collecting taxes at his customs post. Jesus spoke only these two simple words to Matthew: “Follow me.” As a result of these two words, Matthew abandons his former life and becomes a follower of Jesus.
Why would Matthew do such a thing? What was it that convinced him to follow Jesus? Clearly there was much more than just a two-word invitation from Jesus that convinced him to respond.
Many times I had pondered upon what would make Matthew and the other disciples drop their whole lives and follow Jesus on such simple invites. Matthew’s Gospel doesn’t give us any reason beyond ‘follow Me.’ Yea, ‘The Chosen’ shows how he might have come to question his life seeing things he couldn’t explain. But, why? What would cause Matthew and so many others to leave everything for this man?
Simon had the catch of fish, Andrew was promoted by the baptist, Nathanael had Philip’s invitation, but what prompted Matthew? Just two words, ‘Follow Me.’
When writing my book (I Knew His Voice), I sat late one night thinking of the moment’ my daughter saw Jesus face to face. She found a picture she said was Him. I asked, ‘so, that’s what Jesus looks like?.’ She replied, “that’s Him, except the eyes aren’t quite right, they are more beautiful, deeper in real life.” Those words rattled around in my head that night as my fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Then, God showed me the truth of these words. Looking into the eyes of the man, Jesus, one looks into the Divine. The soul sees through the window of God’s eyes, he sees eternity and maybe more so, the soul sees mercy. What more could break a heart and change a life (and an eternity)? Seeing pure love and Divine Mercy gazing back at you…. How could the heart not drop everything to run to Jesus?
Stop today. Spend time not looking at the world or your struggles. Don’t look at what you’ve done wrong. Look at Jesus. But, not at His face or cross. Not at His wounds or bloody face. Sit and stare into His Holy eyes. See love. See all of Divine Mercy, beaconing you to “Follow Me.’
