Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5) – June 7, 2026
9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
- Matthew 9:9-10 –
Can you imagine what was going through Matthew’s mind when the famous rabbi speaks to him?  Matthew was a tax collector.  And if you are not familiar, tax collectors weren’t the most popular individuals in Jesus’ day.  Sure, they worked for the government, collecting taxes that were owed to the emperor.  But often, they were viewed as thieves and scoundrels.  They were rarely honest about what a person truly owed in taxes.  They would inflate the amount, and then, they would keep the “leftovers” for themselves.  So, for example, let’s say you owe $100 in taxes.  A tax collector might say you owe $150 or $200.  Then the tax collector would keep that extra $50 or $100 for himself.  This was Matthew’s job, so the likelihood of him not being well-liked among his fellow Jews was speculated to be rather high.  Certainly, a famous rabbi would pass on by such a crook!
Yet… Jesus stops at the tax booth.  And the shock doesn’t end there!  Jesus calls Matthew to be his disciple.  Matthew must’ve sat with his mouth gaping open wide.  It’s very likely he was just as shocked as those who stood around and witnessed such interaction.  Did Matthew respond to Jesus?  Did he trip over his words and ask in disbelief if Jesus was sure he wanted Matthew to be one of his followers?  Did Jesus understand what kind of person Matthew was?
We may not have the answer to all of those questions, but we do know that once it dawned on Matthew what had taken place, it was reason to celebrate!  Matthew, who had been after others’ money, had just won the greatest jackpot of all!  He would be rich in a way that he did not yet fully understand.  That’s what happens when Jesus has chosen you.  Yes, Jesus definitely knew the kind of person Matthew was.  He knows the kind of person you are as well.  And yet, he has chosen you to follow him.  Matthew will soon find out just how far Jesus will go for him.  It goes far beyond calling him to be a disciple.  Jesus will go so far as to lay down his very own life, not just for Matthew, but for you and me as well.  Jesus will suffer and die at the hands of his enemies, and then he will rise from the tomb alive.  He will go to these lengths to give us freedom from the devil, forgiveness of sin, and life eternal with him.
Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5) – June 7, 2026
9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
- Matthew 9:9-10 –
Can you imagine what was going through Matthew’s mind when the famous rabbi speaks to him?  Matthew was a tax collector.  And if you are not familiar, tax collectors weren’t the most popular individuals in Jesus’ day.  Sure, they worked for the government, collecting taxes that were owed to the emperor.  But often, they were viewed as thieves and scoundrels.  They were rarely honest about what a person truly owed in taxes.  They would inflate the amount, and then, they would keep the “leftovers” for themselves.  So, for example, let’s say you owe $100 in taxes.  A tax collector might say you owe $150 or $200.  Then the tax collector would keep that extra $50 or $100 for himself.  This was Matthew’s job, so the likelihood of him not being well-liked among his fellow Jews was speculated to be rather high.  Certainly, a famous rabbi would pass on by such a crook!
Yet… Jesus stops at the tax booth.  And the shock doesn’t end there!  Jesus calls Matthew to be his disciple.  Matthew must’ve sat with his mouth gaping open wide.  It’s very likely he was just as shocked as those who stood around and witnessed such interaction.  Did Matthew respond to Jesus?  Did he trip over his words and ask in disbelief if Jesus was sure he wanted Matthew to be one of his followers?  Did Jesus understand what kind of person Matthew was?
We may not have the answer to all of those questions, but we do know that once it dawned on Matthew what had taken place, it was reason to celebrate!  Matthew, who had been after others’ money, had just won the greatest jackpot of all!  He would be rich in a way that he did not yet fully understand.  That’s what happens when Jesus has chosen you.  Yes, Jesus definitely knew the kind of person Matthew was.  He knows the kind of person you are as well.  And yet, he has chosen you to follow him.  Matthew will soon find out just how far Jesus will go for him.  It goes far beyond calling him to be a disciple.  Jesus will go so far as to lay down his very own life, not just for Matthew, but for you and me as well.  Jesus will suffer and die at the hands of his enemies, and then he will rise from the tomb alive.  He will go to these lengths to give us freedom from the devil, forgiveness of sin, and life eternal with him.