St. Matthew: God Had a Different Job Description
September 21 — Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Matthew knew money. He was a tax collector, so numbers, taxes, accounts, and money were his daily business. In fact, among the Apostles, he was probably the one with the most financial experience.
So I can imagine Matthew thinking when Jesus called him:
“Finally! A job I am qualified for. Someone has to look after the money. Surely Jesus will make me the treasurer!”
But Jesus had other plans.
The money bag was given to Judas.
I wonder if Matthew ever looked at Judas and thought, “Seriously? Judas? Why him and not me? I actually know what I’m doing!”
Of course, the Gospel doesn't tell us that Matthew ever thought this. But I can certainly imagine it!
And perhaps there is a lesson here for us priests, parishioners—and especially anyone who has ever wondered why somebody else got the job, the responsibility, or the opportunity we thought should be ours.
God's plan is often different from our job description.
Jesus didn't call Matthew simply because he was good with money. Jesus had something much bigger in mind.
Matthew would become an Apostle and the author of one of the four Gospels. The man who once kept track of money would now help people discover something far more valuable: the riches of God's mercy and the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Imagine if Jesus had said, “Matthew, you are really good with numbers. You can be our treasurer.” Maybe Matthew would have been very happy. But we might never have had the Gospel according to Matthew!
Sometimes we look at our lives and wonder, “Lord, why didn't You let me do this? Why did You give that opportunity to someone else?”
Matthew reminds us that God may have something much better in mind.
Jesus sees possibilities in us that we don't always see in ourselves.
Matthew simply heard two words: “Follow me.” He got up, left his tax booth, and followed Jesus. He didn't have the whole plan. He didn't know he would become an Apostle. He certainly didn't know that Christians would still be reading his Gospel two thousand years later.
He just trusted Jesus.
And maybe that's the challenge for us today. We don't need to understand everything God is doing. We don't need to have the whole five-year plan—or even the five-day plan!
Sometimes we simply need to hear Jesus say, “Follow me,” and have enough faith to get up and go.
St. Matthew, pray for us, that we may trust God's plan—even when He gives the job we wanted to somebody else!
Fr.Marius Sztuk, SDS
