Matthew Got up and follow Him... Matt 9,9-13.

The first reading of yesterday and today's Mass were on Abraham. I remember at a personal retreat two years ago, I found God challenging me to be like Abraham, to give up a relationship very precious to me. Well, Abraham was one inspiration for me at that time. His willingness to sacrifice without questioning, was something that seemed so impossible for me. [Maybe it was easier for him because he could ‘see’ and ‘hear’ God, whereas for us, it is just blind faith.] In any case, I drew strength from the fact that God will not test you beyond what you could handle & He , being a jealous God, just wants you to proof to him that you can will choose him n respond when he ask you to.. So … I guess the point is just TRUST.

Today, I am grateful to God for the past two years. They were filled with many trials and falls, but also many unexpected surprises and wonderful graces. As I pray for a friend who is making a radical choice to follow Christ like Matthew , in today’s Gospel, I am stirred and awed by His desires for me…

Below is a reflection from Daily Gospel which I subscribe to. It is really good, the email will send you the daily readings and also a reflection on the Gospel by some saint or Pope.

“Matthew got up and followed him.” Matt 9:9

Our Lord told Saint Matthew: “Follow me.” This lovable saint is a model for everyone. He was first of all a great sinner, as the Gospel says, and later, he became one of the great ones among all God’s friends. For Our Lord spoke to him in the depths of his being, and then he left everything in order to follow the Master.

To follow God in truth – that is everything; and in order to do that, it is necessary to truly and completely leave all that is not God, whatever it might be. God is a lover of hearts. He is not interested in what is external; rather, he wants us to give him a living interior devotedness. That devotedness has in itself more truth than if I said prayers so as to fill the whole world, or if I sang so loud that my song rose up to the highest heaven, more truth than everything I might do externally in fasting, vigils and other practices