Thoughts for the Day

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.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

As the rain came, I pulled up the hood on my coat. The labradors, Toffee and Fudge, had run ahead and were busy chasing smells across the deserted beach, and heading towards the next bay round the corner, which I knew would quickly disappear under the incoming tide.

Entering the second bay I began calling the dogs as loudly as I could over the sound and fury of the wind and waves. Not a flicker of a response occurred. I shouted again. Toffee looked up, only to go back to playing with some seaweed. And so it went on. I called, they ignored me. I called, they turned to look. Finally I called "Dinner!", my usual call at home in the evening before turning away from them, and heading back towards the car, while noting out of the corner of my eye that they were following. Shortly I was able to give them some dog treats and put them safety back into the car.

In today's reading we see Jesus calling Matthew, a hated tax collector, to be one of his disciples. When the time was right Matthew chose to respond to that call. Jesus talks of his followers as sheep and he is the shepherd, but not having many sheep and shepherds in my world, I think in terms of dogs - dogs that are continually called, but to whom their own concerns are more important; dogs who hear the call, but who choose whether to answer it or not. The call for us can be frequent, we need to listen for it and respond, for our Lord Jesus knows what is best for us.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we know you called Your disciples,
who came with all their human baggage,
with warts and all.
We know You call us again and again,
but often we are too busy to respond.
Help us to keep in constant touch with You
and to realise that You know
what is best for us,
so that when You call
we are ready to follow.
Amen.