It would be possible to shorten today’s gospel to a mere 30 words but it is 30 words which unfold a profound and deep story of a life turned around. Matthew sits in the tax booth, Jesus calls him and he gets up and follows Jesus. Short and concise. I always wonder what happened next. What about the tax booth and who looked after that? What about the money left behind?

Did Matthew continue to struggle with a love of money or was it all forgotten? Sometimes we would like it all to be as simple as that: say “yes” and everything changes in a flash; an old life left behind and a new one embraced. Whatever questions we have we are invited to honour St Matthew today. We pray for the grace to listen attentively to Christ’s call, to respond with courage, and to witness to God’s mercy in our daily lives.

Fr Simon