“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

BUMC Family and Friends,

I love the story of Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector. I like it not just because I share the same
name, but because at times I have failed in huge ways, just as the disciple failed. Tax collectors were
hated people in Jesus’ world. They collected more than authorized by the government to enrich
themselves. If a family couldn’t pay the tax, the tax collector could take their property, their food,
even their children to sell into slavery. There can be no question that Matthew, the tax collector, had
lived a self-centered life of abusing others for his own enrichment. He was by all accounts a bad, bad
person and was despised by everyone.
But, when Jesus looked at Matthew, he didn’t see the greedy, violent, agent of the government.
Rather, Jesus saw a better version of Matthew that he knew Matthew could become. And when Jesus
called, Matthew followed, and for the rest of his years he worked to become that better version of
himself.
We all fail in some way from time to time. No matter how badly we screw up or how terribly we have
hurt people, Jesus sees the better versions of us that are possible-even when everyone around us
cannot; even when we ourselves will not. God’s love and grace flow to us in spite of our mistakes, our
poor choices, our angry words, and all the other things we tend to do.
Through the love of God, Jesus helps each of us live into this better possibility for our lives. If any of
us have failed or fallen by the wayside, know that we are all forgiven and loved. We can let go of the
past and with Christ, as our guide, push forward to a better future where we strive to become the
best version of ourselves.
Let us all forgive and love each other as we work to be better versions of ourselves.

 

Blessings to All,
Pastor Matt