follow me

Matthew 9:9-13

It is often amazing to look back and try to imagine the scenes of the gospel as they are related to us through the eyes and ears of the gospel writers.

They crunch everything up in such small space it seems a bit overwhelming.

Take for instance today's gospel reading on this feast of St. Matthew.

IT took all of 3 lines to for MAtthew to describe the event.  He simple states the action: "As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.  HE said to him, "Follow Me.:  ANd he got up and followed him."

That is it.

He seems so easy.  He sos effortless.  He seems so unrealistic.

How often do people respond so promptly to the call of Christ today.  No.  Today we think about it and think about it and think about it so more.  We weigh our options.  We seek people to guide us.  We take years to make up our mind.

We analyze it from every angle: financially, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally.

At the rate it takes us to respond to a nudge from Christ, we forget what he was nudging us to do.

We could learn a lot form Matthew.  Prompt readiness and rises and follows.

all it took was the simply bending of knee to rise.

MAtthew's heart was ready for a change.  Ready to be led.  Ready for an adventure.

Prompt.  Ready.  Quick to respond.

We should try it sometime.

"Follow me."