Their message goes out through all the earth. — Psalm 19:5

Mass Readings: Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13 / Matthew 9:9-13 

‘Follow Me’ 

It’d be a lie to say that I’ve never told my children “because I said so.” But when our kids were young, I tried very hard to explain the reasoning behind the rules. My hope was that they’d eventually move beyond obeying rules out of fear of the punishment or consequence, and into following the correct path of the rule because it was right. 

Sometimes I, too, get caught up on rules and forget to focus on the life that they call me to live. Jesus didn’t come to give us a new commandment or to show God’s power through miracles. He did those things, yes, but Jesus is not a mere messenger. Jesus is the message! In today’s Gospel, Matthew got up and followed Jesus. Not because of what Jesus did but because who Jesus was. 

Prayer: I will follow You, Jesus.