Jesus Saw

“As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.” Matthew 9:9

In “The Anawim Way” today, I was struck with the first paragraph:

‘Pope Francis’ papal motto, “Miserando Atque Eligendo”, can be loosely translated as “He looked at him with mercy and called him”. It comes from St. Bede the Venerable’s reflection on the call of Matthew, especially in how Jesus looked at Matthew when he saw him sitting at his custom’s post.’

Matthew was a tax collector and tax collectors were treated with disdain by the Jews. He was despised for collaborating with the Roman occupation force. But Jesus looked at Matthew with mercy and called him, “Follow me.” Because of this, Matthew became one of Jesus’ Twelve disciples, and after Jesus’ death, preached the gospel, established churches and died a martyr. 

We should learn to see people with eyes of mercy and compassion. We should not judge and count them off as worthless or hopeless. Many people are in pain, having such a difficult time in life. If we just extend a listening ear or a helping hand, perhaps we will see more changed lives, and miracles. Perhaps the changed life will be our own.