REFLECTION:

One of the things I love about the show The Chosen is how they portray Matthew. If you've seen it, Matthew is very particular. Everything has to be organized. He notices every little detail. Numbers have to add up. Things have to be in the right place. The show portrays him with traits that today we might associate with neurodivergence or compulsive tendencies.

Now, before somebody emails me—the Bible does not say Matthew had OCD! That's the show's creative interpretation.

But maybe that's also why I like their Matthew so much. Because as a pastor, I think my staff and parishioners would tell you that I notice little details too. If something is moved, if something doesn't look right, if something is out of place—I notice it. And yes, sometimes I can be a little OCD about things!

So maybe Matthew and I would have gotten along very well... or we would have driven each other crazy.

But when you read Matthew's Gospel, you can understand where The Chosen got the idea. Matthew loves details, structure, and numbers.

And if you read the whole Gospel of Matthew—the Gospel we've been hearing on Sundays this year—you'll notice how often Matthew records Jesus talking about money: debts, wages, talents, treasure, taxes, coins, settling accounts.

It's almost like Matthew is listening to Jesus thinking, “Finally! A parable I understand!”

Because Matthew was a tax collector. Numbers and money were his world.

And that's what I love about today's Gospel. Jesus sees Matthew sitting at the customs post and simply says, “Follow me.” Jesus doesn't say, “Matthew, first become somebody completely different.” He takes Matthew as he is—his personality, his attention to detail, his experience, even his past—and gives it a new purpose.

That's what Paul reminds us today: “Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”

We all have different personalities and different gifts. Some teach. Some organize. Some sing. Some listen. Some notice every little detail—and sometimes annoy everybody else by pointing them out!

But maybe instead of asking, “Why am I like this?” we should ask, “Jesus, how can You use this?” Matthew once sat at a table counting what people owed.

Then he met Jesus, who taught him how much people are worth. And Jesus says the same thing to us today: “Follow me.”

Not, “Become somebody else first.” But bring who you are, and let me show you what I can do with it.