In today’s gospel proclamation “Follow me” are the words the Lord Jesus uses to call St. Matthew. Until the time the Lord Jesus called him, St. Matthew lived the life of a tax collector, despised by his own people as a traitor who worked for the Roman occupation forces. Yet the Lord Jesus saw him not as he was, but as he could be, and invited him to follow him. The Lord Jesus saw beyond St. Matthew’s current occupation and circumstances and saw in him the potential to be the Apostle Matthew who wrote one of the four gospels and who ultimately died a Martyr for the faith; He saw in him the potential to be the person God created him to be. Each person we meet, also holds much greater potential than may be visible on the surface. It is possible that they themselves have not recognized their potential, instead have accepted the labels the world has placed upon them. It is only God’s grace that can open our eyes to value each person we meet, seeing them, loving them, and encouraging them, as a Son and a Daughter of the Most High God.

Prayer: Abba Father, open the eyes of my heart so that I may see people the way you see them. And truly value and love them as you do. Amen