Matthew was called a sinner, and now his message goes out through all the earth.

The story of Saint Matthew is a powerful reminder that God does not call only the perfect; He calls people and transforms them by His grace. Matthew was sitting at the customs post, a tax collector whom many regarded as a sinner and an outsider. Jesus saw something that others did not see. Jesus looked beyond Matthew’s past and said simply: “Follow me.” Matthew did not argue. He did not say, “I am not worthy,” or “Let me first change my life.” He got up and followed Jesus. That moment became the beginning of a completely new life. The Pharisees were scandalized that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. But Jesus answered, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.” Then He gave us one of the most beautiful principles of the Gospel: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Saint Matthew teaches us that mercy can transform a sinner into a disciple, and a disciple into an evangelist. The man whom society knew as a tax collector became the author of a Gospel through which the message of Christ has gone throughout the earth. The same person who was once sitting at a table collecting taxes eventually became a messenger of God's mercy. This is also our story. We may carry weaknesses, mistakes, wounds, or parts of our past that we would rather forget. But Jesus does not define us by our past. He sees the person we can become through His grace. His call is still: “Follow me.” Saint Paul reminds us today that each of us has received grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Some are called to teach, some to serve, some to evangelize, some to encourage, and others to lead. Whatever our vocation, we are called to build up the Body of Christ through humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity. Let us therefore never allow our past to become an excuse for refusing God's call. Like Matthew, let us rise, follow Christ, and allow Him to turn our lives into a message of hope for others. “Their message goes out through all the earth.” May our words, our actions, our kindness, and especially our mercy become part of that message.