The Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke narrate Matthew's call by Our Lord immediately after the cure of the paralytic in Capernaum. Matthew is a publican in Herods' service. Though not a court official he has purchased the right to collect taxes and seems he enjoys high social status, Matthew made Jesus a great feast in his house and where there was a large company of tax collectors and other official.

The Lord invites Matthew to become one of His disciples and Matthew "arose and followed Jesus." His response is quick and generous; probably he had met Jesus on other occasions and was looking forward to this opportunity. He does not hesitate to leave everything and follow Jesus. God alone knows why Jesus chose Matthew and only He could tell us what He perceived in Jesus to leave his collection table at once. But we see by the prompt and complete obedience of Matthew leaving all his worldly possessions in an instant that Jesus' work and mission had touched him.

Jesus draws very near to each one of us - no matter what our age or circumstances - and He looks at us in a unique way. The problem is "are we open to Him?" To be holy is not easy, but it is not difficult either. To be holy is to be a good Christian, to resemble Christ. The more a person resembles Christ, the more Christian he is.