Surprising Attraction

The calling of Matthew from the texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, is one example of the difference in thinking and expectation of the human mind and the Divine. Jesus says to Matthew, a tax collector who takes money from his own Hebrew people to deliver it to the Roman occupying forces; ”Follow Me. Matthew is attracted to Jesus through a spiritual resonance of the Indwelling Spirit and the Divine Spirit. Unfortunately for religious authorities, this attraction to truth is not controlled by any human process or liturgy. Amos is disappointed with Israel for not accepting the guidance available through faithfulness to God which would show itself in care for the disadvantaged. The Prophet has seen a drought of the Word of God in the lives of the people. He considers that God should punish this unfaithfulness but the surprise for all is contained in Jesus proclamation from Matthew’s gospel” I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13)