The Holy Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian
Romans 8:14-21; Matthew 9:9-13.
Read Matthew 9:9-13
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
It is quite surprising that in the Gospel written by his own hand Mathew describes his conversion which was probably the greatest moment of his life just by one short sentence. Jesus said: “Follow me,” and “he arose and followed him.” As simple as that.
Sometimes we tend to complicate various developments happening in our life. We try to carefully reflect and weigh all pros and cons. We are inclined to plan everything very meticulously, so we can keep everything in order and gain control over our own life. Yet, if we choose to do so, we leave no place for God who is the only one who can fill up everything we do with higher purpose and who can truly satisfy our deepest desires and needs.
Matthew relied on himself in creating his own destiny and succeeded in collecting all earthly goods he may ever need to provide security for all possible circumstances of life. Yet, he was deeply unhappy, because he was disrespected by the Romans and hated by his own countrymen. Disregarding Jewish deep conviction that collecting the taxes to any earthly ruler offends God rights as the only true king, Mathew was expelled from the synagogue, generally regarded as being permanently unclean and in accordance to the book of Leviticus equated to the “robbers and murderers” (Lev. 20, 5).
He eagerly desired to make a change in his life, but at the same time he was hesitant to make the first step, since he started to believe others considering him as being unworthy of God’s grace. Is not this true about our parishes where we fail to do missionary work, since we regard other people as being not good enough to be part of our community? Are not we more concerned with criticism instead of encouragement, easily condemning people rather than justifying and accepting them? Are not we more concerned with our outward orthodoxy and make ourselves too busy with following our own spiritual path not paying attention to those who have fallen and who are in need of our help?
Providentially for Mathew, who in human eyes was probably the most unlikely candidate for the office of the Apostle, Jesus made a first step towards him and approached Mathew in a very direct manner. His invitation was short, but very decisive. Jesus did not only see Mathew as he was, but he was also able to see Mathew’s potential. Before Mathew started to believe in Jesus, Jesus believed in Matthew. He also believes in you and me, even if we stopped to do so by ourselves.