Follow Me - Weekday Homily Video

They say meeting a certain person can change your life. That was definitely the case for St. Matthew. Jesus' word is powerfully transformative; just two words, “Follow me,” were all it took to lead Matthew away from his wealth, security, and wayward life to follow Jesus.

I bet, like me, you can remember countless times when you’ve either said those words, “Follow me,” to someone, or gratefully heard them. Being directionally challenged and before GPS, they were words that I rejoiced in hearing when I had somehow gotten off the beaten path on back roads in Hingham or Somerville with all those one-way streets.

Hearing a Call

More importantly, each in our own way have heard and responded to Jesus' invitation to follow Him. We might’ve heard it in different ways or at different times, but clearly, Jesus has led us many times in our lives, perhaps when we’ve gotten lost, disoriented, or discouraged, but also in the good times.

I can think of numerous times when someone literally said, “Follow me,” whether on a mountain mogul run, in a massive crowd at World Youth Day in Denver, or on some back street in Boston that wasn’t the safest place to be.

But just as crucial to my spiritual life and my journey to heaven have been the times when someone invited me to follow them and become an altar boy, go on a high school retreat, join a youth group, or go to World Youth Day, and later, to become a lector and teach a Confirmation class. Long before I heard God’s call to the priesthood, people invited me to join them in these important moments in life.

I invite you to take some time today to reflect on the times when Jesus led you to follow Him, both in the challenging and the joy-filled moments of your life. It is in recognizing Jesus' presence and the people He brings into our lives that we are moved to give thanks to God and to those special people. It’s in remembering these grace-filled moments that we grow in our faith in God’s care for us and in a desire to help others follow Jesus.

St. Matthew heeded Jesus’ call even when he was a big-time sinner. In fact, that’s what the Pharisees tried to use against Jesus. But Jesus clearly explained that it’s sinners who need a divine physician, a Savior. The hard truth is that we are all sinners, but the good news is that Jesus calls each one of us every day to follow Him.

Leading Others to Jesus

Jesus also wants us to lead others to Him. St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that with the grace of Jesus, we are to help others in humility, gentleness, and patience. In other words, when we’re trying to help others get back on track to follow Jesus, we need to be kind and understanding and bear with one another with love.

When things gets tough, or when we or a loved one gets lost, just remember Jesus’ words, “Follow me,” and know that if Matthew could do it and become an apostle, evangelist, and saint, there is hope and a reason to believe that God will lead us where we need to go, one step at a time, if only we follow Him.

• Today’s Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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