June 8, 2008,  Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, All Souls' Episcopal Church

God’s Call….Obedience, not sacrifice
Matthew 9: 9-13

Today’s Gospel gives us a brief and rather puzzling story of Matthew’s Call to discipleship, but let’s take a moment and look at some of the other “Call” stories we remember from God throughout the ages and in our history books.

We can look at the biographies of notables in the ancient world, special callings to discipleship were recorded with regularity. For instance, in the Greek world, there was the story of Socrates’ call of Xenophon (zen ah fon) the Greek warrior and historian. In the Hebrew tradition, one thinks at once of Elijah’s call of Elisha.  In these “callings” the teacher’s mantle of responsibility begins to be passed on to the student, who, in turn, will pass it on to the next generation of disciples establishing a legacy.

There are quite a few “call stories” by Jesus in the Gospels, some were very successful including this call of Matthew which is really in itself quite extraordinary. But before we delve into his story, let’s look at the stories that did not turn out so well.  I think you will find that this will come to an interesting conclusion. Three such scenarios that did not work out too well can be read to Luke’s Gospel alone.

Unsuccessful Call #l.  The first claimant to discipleship with Jesus boasts: “I will follow you wherever you go”. However, the heroic man receives an abrupt response from Jesus. Jesus said in essence, that foxes and birds have it better in this dog-eat-dog world than will the ones who follow him. Obviously, Jesus did not encourage this fellow.

Unsuccessful Call #2.  Jesus said, “Follow me” to another man, but the man said, “Lord, let me first go bury my father. Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead”. Now…..in the call of Elisha by Elijah, Elisha consents to follow him only upon the condition that he can return home first and offer proper good-bye to his family. Elijah agreed…not so with Jesus.  Meeting any sort of precondition—no matter how noble and credible on the part of the callee—is unacceptable to Jesus.  The call of Jesus supersedes everything, even sacred family obligations.

Finally, Unsuccessful Call #3.  Another would-be disciple steps forward, and, with great boldness declares:  “I will follow you, Lord,” but then adds the caveat, “but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”  Jesus, again, in effect, tells him “no way,” and then proceeds to say, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Nothing can come between Jesus and the follower of Jesus—whether family ties, occupation, possessions, a good name, or good causes.

Now…our Gospel….the call of Matthew, on the surface, appears as though it should be “Unsuccessful Call # 4.”  Here’s why.  After the conquest of Palestine in 63 B. C. by Pompey the Great, the subjugated Hebrews were required to pay taxes to Rome—the onerous, unclean-Gentile occupying power.  The Roman IRS, needing assistance in collecting tax revenues farmed out “franchises” to indigenous representatives who ran local tax offices.  These “officials” employed by Rome would prepay to the state their revenue quota for the coming year.  In return, they could add on whatever override they desired.  In other word, many,,,,not all… of them….. grew fat and happy at the expense of their countrymen—while also feeding the Roman “giant” under whose heel they labored and travailed.

Matthew must have been one of these Roman IRS surrogates:  in the eyes of the Hebrews, sort of a cross between Benedict Arnold and the head of the Mafia.  Considered despicable by the people he taxed for Rome, he bilked his fellow countrymen for his own enrichment, Matthew was a Jew who by his line of work had made himself into a despised Gentile. He was looked on as an irreligious, greedy defector!

Are we missing something here?  Why did Jesus call this fellow?  Did Matthew graduate first in his class?  Did he have a hidden “spiritual aptitude” about which we were not told? Did he have latent “leadership qualities” he could parlay into Glory for God’s Kingdom ?  Or could he, through his wealth, simply be a generous contributor to the Kingdom cause?

Who knows?  The text never says.  We are left hanging.  With a whole legion of more respectable would-be disciples out there, again, why did Jesus finger Matthew?

But here is an interesting and very key point to consider, and this is the reason for examining those previous calls that were unsuccessful:

Nobody in the Gospels, ever got to be a disciple of Jesus by volunteering.  Peter and Andrew, James and John would still be fishing You become a disciple of Jesus only on the basis of a call, not because you decide to put yourself at his disposal. You simply responded automatically to His Call.

Remember…..Jesus said…”You did not choose me but I chose you.”  Jesus tells this to the disciples—independent of qualifications, or preliminary training, or moral fiber, or IQ.  Whereas entry into rabbinical school in those days was based largely on the initiative of the candidate, with Jesus, it is just the opposite.  The initiative always lies with him.  No one ever got to be a disciple of Jesus by volunteering. They did, however, by responding unconditionally and once Jesus had the response……..He handled it!

It is said that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000—that’s genius.  Warren Buffett or Bill Gates could sign their name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars—that capital.  A mechanic can take material that is worth only $10.00 and make it worth $150.00—that’s skill.  But only Jesus Christ can take a sinful life like Matthew’s,  wash it in His Grace, proclaim a call to service and give that person a purpose, put His Spirit in it and make it a blessing to humanity—that’s salvation. Plain and simple!

So what are the conditions for discipleship?  What does the Lord require of would-be followers?  This, simply this.  That they be ready to climb to their feet when Jesus says, “Follow me.”   Without qualification.  Without hesitation. Forget checking with the folks back home or trying to get this Carpenter’s resume’ Jesus demands an unconditional and immediate response.  The one who hesitates is lost.  It’s that simple, that complicated. In the final analysis, Jesus doesn’t call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing !!…..and then He qualifies them.

Simon Weil, the Jewish philosopher and follower of Christ, once said, “We posssess nothing in this world other than the power to say ‘I.’”  To claim our “I-ness” in responsibility.  In discipleship, to answer the Spirit-generated yearning to follow Jesus with the power we do possess:  the power of “I” to step forward.  “I am.”  “I will.”  “I do.”  “I’ll go.”  Chosenness followed by I-ness—that is the formula of discipleship Jesus demands.

Matthew stands as just one of the many over the last 2000 years flawed and fallen beings with feet of clay who have met the challenge at the call of Jesus.  Not because they are good or gifted, but because they have been called…..and willing. It is a decision all disciples have to make, yet one that can’t be forced, or stuffed down anybody’s throat.  It can’t be inherited or manipulated or “wished” on anyone!

But God’s Call can—and should—be reaffirmed each day in our lives as the power of “I” manifests itself in infinite ways. The author, Fred Craddock wrote an inciseful commentary  for one of his books. In it, he said this: ( and I quote) “Most of us this week will not christen a ship, write a book, end a war, appoint a cabinet, dine with a queen, convert a nation or be burned at the stake. More than likely this week will present us, if we are open to God’s Call, with no more of a chance than to write a note to someone hurting, visit a nursing home, vote for a county commissioner, teach a Sunday School class, share a meal, tell a child a story, go to choir practice, smile and be patient with the check out girl at Homeland, or feed the neighbor’s cat. “Whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much”. (end of quote) You see, In all reality, even in the briefest, most halting way, each day you and I are invited to leave the tax office with Matthew, and in surrender, set sail as a disciple of Jesus willing to take some “lumps” if called to do so. To yield ourselves wholeheartedly in love to the unseen Lord……to do as the prophet Micah said, “to do justice, to love kindness and walk humbly with our God”,  to follow in trust the leading of the One, and then finally to marvel as the wind of the Spirit blows the power of our I-ness into situations of service beyond our wildest dreams.

My friends, it happens every day to people just like you and me!

Amen