Matthew 9:9-13

A Reflection on the Gospel Reading

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (Matthew 9:12)

Imagine Matthew sitting at his customs post along the road that passed Capernaum, totally absorbed in his work. In the opinion of the Jewish farmers and fishermen who had to pay him a toll to carry their products down the road to market, Matthew probably seemed like a traitor. He was raising taxes for the regime that held them in subjection. In addition, tax collectors were known to enrich themselves by charging higher fees than they were required to turn over to the government. Thus, Matthew was probably regarded as a thief as well. Tax collectors were barred from the synagogue, just like robbers and murderers.

Jesus had just healed a man of paralysis and, as he left Capernaum, he had to walk by Matthew’s toll office. Probably to Matthew’s astonishment—certainly to the astonishment of Jesus’ followers—Jesus went up to…

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