Summary

The website content discusses the transformative power of compassion and forgiveness, drawing parallels between Jesus' acceptance of the reviled tax collector Matthew and modern examples of unexpected grace, such as Pope Francis dining with racists or Aaron Alex Courtney hugging a Nazi.

Abstract

The article reflects on the historical and cultural significance of Jesus' call to Matthew, a tax collector and social outcast in Jewish society, to follow him, as depicted in Caravaggio's painting "The Calling of St. Matthew." It draws a contemporary analogy to the act of sitting down with those deemed deplorable or racist today, suggesting that Jesus would extend his call to such individuals as well. The text emphasizes that Jesus' message is one of grace and redemption, even for those considered sinners or outcasts. It criticizes the modern tendency to quickly judge and condemn others, comparing it to the Pharisees' attitude in biblical times. The narrative highlights real-life examples of individuals like St. John Paul the Great and Aaron Alex Courtney, who embodied the spirit of Jesus' teachings by forgiving and showing kindness to their enemies. The article concludes by challenging readers to seek out the "Matthews" in their lives and engage in conversation and understanding rather than immediate conflict.

Opinions

The author posits that being called a racist today is akin to being called a tax collector in ancient Israel, both being the ultimate insults of their respective times.
Tax collectors in Jesus' time were seen as traitors and thieves, colluding with the Roman Empire and exploiting their own people for personal gain.
The religious establishment of Jesus' era was shocked and outraged by his association with tax collectors and sinners, much like the public reaction today when leaders engage with universally loathed individuals.
Father Mathias Thelen points out that Jesus reaches out to individuals in their moments of sinfulness and brokenness, contrary to the self-righteous and judgmental attitudes of some contemporary religious figures.
The article suggests that modern society, like the Pharisees of old, is quick to condemn and reject those who hold different views or exhibit what is considered deplorable behavior.
The author commends the actions of Aaron Alex Courtney, who chose to embrace a Nazi instead of resorting to violence, as an example of living out Jesus' teachings.
The article implies that individuals should strive to emulate the compassion and forgiveness shown by figures like Jesus, St. John Paul the Great, and Aaron Alex Courtney, by engaging with those they disagree with or dislike, rather than immediately pushing them away.

***The Calling of St. Matthew*** by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Jesus asked Matthew to follow him.

St. Matthew, Jesus and Racists

Imagine CNN covering a story about Pope Francis, Barack Obama and Donald Trump sitting down for dinner with the world’s most reviled deplorable racist.

Worst insult. Today, the absolute worst insult is to call someone a racist (just ask Justin Trudeau or the governor of Virginia). In the Jewish culture of 2,000 years ago, the absolute worst insult you could call someone was a tax collector and sinner.

Tax collectors were the “reviled racists’’ of ancient Israel, the most universally hated and for good reason. When you hear the word “collusion,’’ remember that tax collectors colluded with the enemy. They collected taxes for Rome (reminding the Jews they were slaves to the Empire). The self-centered greed and evil of the tax collectors was infamous.

Tax collectors were considered to be traitors to their people and evil thieves, known to collect way more than Rome asked for (so the tax collectors could enrich themselves at the expense of their own people). They were the most corrupt and hated people of that world.

No respectable Jew wanted anything to do with a tax collector. The Bible is filled with details. Then along came St. Matthew, a tax collector sitting at the tax collector’s booth. Jesus saw Matthew raking in the money and said “Follow me’’ so Matthew followed (Matthew, 9:9).

Heads exploded among the collective Establishment when they saw Jesus dining with the most hated tax collectors and sinners. Imagine a cable news debate on any leader of today sitting down for dinner with the most reviled and universally loathed people of our time.

The Feast of St. Matthew is a “feast of grace,’’ Father Mathias Thelen says.

Would Jesus point to a racist today and say “Follow me?’’

“Something we need to remember every time we celebrate the life of a saint is that Jesus draws near to that saint when they were sinners, when they were broken, when they were wounded, when they were self-centered, when they were ugly, when their life was a mess,’’ Thelen said. “He eats dinner with tax collectors and sinners and the religious of the world could not stand that.’’

Thankfully, Jesus does come to us in our sinfulness, when we are at our worst.

“He comes near to save us,’’ Thelen said. “Unfortunately there are some in the Church who have this eye of judgement toward eveyone who disagrees with them, this eye of self righteousness, this air of ‘I’m going to condemn you because you disagree with my politics, you disagree with the way I’m living.’’’

New Pharisees. From the old Pharisees to the new Pharisees of today, our culture is great at pointing fingers, condemning and calling out others for deplorable behavior. We are great at rejecting what we don’t like. But what’s the next step?

Would you eat with them? Do we demand the deplorable leave, as so many pundits and politicians do? But what about a cup of coffee and a chat?

Sitting down with — and hugging — your enemies

John Paul sat with his enemies. In the new film, The Divine Plan, we learn about St. John Paul the Great and Ronald Reagan being shot six weeks apart and how they prayed for the men who filled them full of bullets. John Paul sat down with and forgave the man who shot him.

An October 2017 minor miracle chipping away at hate? After two years of often violent political conflicts on college campuses across the United States, Aaron Alex Courtney, a 31-year-old African American, was ready to punch American Nazi Randy Furniss in the face.

But instead, he looked him in his eyes and calmly asked “Why do you hate me? What is it about me? Is it my skin color? My history? My dreadlocks?”

The young Nazi looked down and answered, “I don’t know.’’

Alex Courtney reached over and hugged Randy, offering the perfect Christian explanation: “I reached over and the third time, he wrapped his arms around me, and I heard God whisper in my ear, ‘You changed his life.’

What if we all became a little more like Jesus, a little more like Aaron Alex Courtney? A little more like John Paul?

What if we found the Matthew’s around us and tried to start a conversation before we attacked? What if we called them to follow Him?