The Lord be with you
Bede the Venera
ble (673-735), in a sermon on Mark 2:13-17, said:
“Follow” meant “imitate” – not by the movement of his feet, but rather by a change of life. For whoever says he is following Christ ought himself to walk as Christ walked.
“He rose and followed him.” It is not to be wondered at that the tax collector [Levi, also known as Matthew] should leave the earthly gains he was looking after at the first command of the Lord and that, abandoning riches, he should join the company of him who, he saw, had no wealth. For the Lord, who outwardly called him with words, through a hidden instinct secretly taught him to follow him: by the gift of divine grace the Lord enlightened his mind to understand that he who on earth called him away from temporal interests, could in heaven give incorruptible treasures …
The conversion of one tax collector provided an example of penance and forgiveness to many tax collectors and sinners. In a wonderful and true sign of the future, he who was to become the apostle and teacher of the gentiles brought with him to salvation a multitude of sinners in the first moments of his own conversion. He began even in the earliest period of his belief his duties as a preacher, which he was to fulfil as he made progress in virtue.
Furth
ermore, if we would penetrate to the inner significance of what took place, not only did he prepare a banquet for the Lord in his home on earth but, what was much more welcome to the Lord, he made a feast in the home of his soul by faith and love, as is testified by him who said: “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.”
We open the door at the sound of his voice to receive him, when we freely assent to his prompting, whether secret or open, and when we do what we know we should do. He enters then, to eat with us and we with him, since he lives in the hearts of his elect by the gift of his love. He rejoices there hearts by the light of his presence in as much as they make more and more progress in their longing for heaven, and it is as though he himself delighted in the banquet of virtues which they spread for him.
Homily 21
Source: For All the Saints, year 1, volume 2 (323-324)
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor