THURSDAY

Matthew 9:9-13

Not all unexpected things are as dramatic as the story we noticed yesterday, as Saul gets stopped in his tracks and his life is completely transformed. There are much more subtle ways that this can happen, but they are no less profound or far-reaching. Sometimes, because they don’t have the accompaniment of a flash of light from heaven or being struck blind, we can miss them as a result of another, more subtle kind of blindness. Our Scripture passage for today is one of those moments, as Jesus extends a call to someone that those already with him would not have expected and may not even have fully approved of. Take a few moments to read through and reflect on the story describing the call of Matthew. Matthew, a Jew who had become an agent of the government that occupied Palestine and oppressed the Jewish community. Matthew, who would have suffered the social stigma of his occupation, and was included in the “tax collector and sinners” category that shaped the way people like him were regarded. Matthew, who may well have had a receptive heart, but would have experienced all kinds of barriers to being considered “good” company in nearly every sense of the word. This is the Matthew who Jesus calls to come and follow him. Jesus is full of surprises! That is actually better news for all of us than we probably realize! If you’d like, you can watch this moment, which is portrayed powerfully in this clip from the show “The Chosen.” Take a few moments to view it and reflect on what you see portrayed there (and then reflect on the questions that follow). The Chosen Scene

• What do you notice about Matthew’s surprise at being considered and included? What can we learn from this?

• What do you notice about Peter’s surprise and his resistance? What can we learn from this?

• What do you notice about the reactions of the various characters portrayed in the scene? What impresses you most about this?

• What do you notice about the way Jesus is portrayed here? What do you see?

• As you reflect on the passage, both in print and as it is portrayed in the video, where do you sense it connecting with you the most? What growing edges in your own life does it suggest?

Take a few moments to respond to God in prayer, sharing what you are thinking about as a result of this passage.