Sometimes life changes on the spur of a moment, like when Jesus called Levi (Matthew) to follow him. Matthew agreed and quickly gathered his tax-collecting colleagues to meet Jesus:

Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Excitement and joy welled-up in Matthew following his encounter with Jesus, so he threw a party. Instinctively he celebrated and feasted and told others as he departed for a new life with the teacher.

Matthew understood that following Jesus involved renouncing and leaving old ways. He surrendered his attitudes and actions, agreeing to bring them under the lordship of Christ.

Too often we consider committing to Jesus as a ticket to drudgery or the squashing of our individuality. No misconception could be more off base. For those who follow him, God promises the opposite—long draughts from the river of the Lord’s delight (Psalm 36:8).

Matthew immediately tossed fears aside for the adventure of a life with Jesus. He surrendered and celebrated with his friends. Let us embrace the same behavior, promoting both surrender and celebration as we free ourselves from the anchors of this world.

Luke 5 in reading the Bible in 2023

The Calling of Saint Matthew in San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.