Leaving everything behind to follow the Master

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IT all happened in a moment. "As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him" (Mt 9:9). No arguments. No excuses. No delay.

Matthew simply stood up and followed Christ. He left behind his work, his security, his plans, and even his reputation. Humanly speaking, it looked foolish. Supernaturally, it was the wisest decision of his life.

That is how every Christian vocation begins—not with a career move or a personal project, but with a personal encounter with Christ. Before asking us to do something, he asks us to be with him. Christianity is not first about rules or duties. It is about following a Person.

The beautiful thing is that Christ calls us where we are. Matthew was not in the Temple praying. He was at his tax booth, doing a job despised by many. Yet Jesus saw beyond appearances. He saw an apostle, an evangelist, a saint.

God always sees more than we do. He looks beyond our past, our failures, and our weaknesses. He sees what his grace can accomplish if only we cooperate.

That should give us confidence. No one is disqualified from holiness. Every baptized person is called to become another Christ. Whether we are parents, professionals, students, workers, or priests, our vocation is the same—to seek holiness in the middle of ordinary life.

But following Christ always requires leaving something behind. Perhaps not our profession, but certainly our sins, selfishness, pride, comfort, and attachment to our own will. We cannot cling to the "tax booth" of our old life while expecting to walk with Christ. Love always demands self-giving. The more we detach ourselves from sin and self, the freer we become to love God and others.

Many want Christ without sacrifice, holiness without conversion, and discipleship without the Cross. It cannot be done. The Cross is not an obstacle to love. It is its clearest expression. Every genuine vocation is marked by generous self-giving.

The Gospel then shows Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees are scandalized. But Christ answers with words we should never forget: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

The Church is not for perfect people. It is where sinners meet the mercy of God. Christ does not wait for us to become worthy before calling us. He calls us so that we may become worthy through his grace.

That mercy, however, is never an excuse to remain where we are. It always urges us toward conversion. God's love accepts us as we are but never leaves us as we are.

Like Matthew, we are sent back to ordinary life with a new purpose. Our work becomes prayer. Our family life becomes a path to holiness. Our daily duties become opportunities to love God and serve others. We do not run away from the world. We transform it from within by living our faith in ordinary circumstances.

Matthew's response also reminds us that every vocation is apostolic. God never calls us for ourselves alone. He calls us so that others may come to know him through our fidelity. One generous "yes" can touch countless souls.

Christ is still passing by today. He is still saying, "Follow me." The only question is whether we will remain seated at our comfortable table—or rise without hesitation and follow the Master.