I UNDERSTAND that the word "crisis" in Chinese is represented by two characters, one depicting danger; the other depicting opportunity. We may be enjoying an unaccustomed pattern of living; and then something happens unexpectedly . . . new circumstances arise that demand having to make a choice about our future. We may even resent the need to make a decision, preferring not to be disturbed.
Something of that kind of thing took place in the life of Saint Matthew, of whom the Church thinks on September 21st. The Gospel of that day tells of Christ's decision to invite Matthew to follow him, and of the evangelist's ready response. He was a publican (a tax collector). He was well known as a member of a hated class. They were despised as traitors and guislings, as well as rogues and crooks.
Jesus flouted convention and broke the rules by the discernment he showed in choosing one of them, Saint Matthew, to be a member of his band of apostles. Jesus' strength and largeness of mind seen in his going against widespread contempt of tax collectors as a group. He bravely chose Saint Matthew, in whom he saw a person with the potential to be an apostle. Likewise, in Saint Matthew's quick response we can see that perhaps over a period he had seen in Jesus someone wonderful and worthy of following for the rest of his life.
"Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him Follow Me, and he rose and followed Him." At that moment Matthew reached a turning point . . . a moment of crises in his life a moment of decision in which there were dangers. He was facing a loss of income, a loss of face, and no doubt a loss of friends. At the same time, there before his eyes stood his newly found hero, actually inviting him to become involved in a glorious adventure for the salvation of the world. That adventure, he could see, was packed full of danger and opportunity. He followed. He made a decision that he certainly seems never to have regretted.
In that simple account of two people meeting at the Capernaum tax office, we can see much that would be of real help in our times of crises. The big factor in that story is that Jesus took the initiative, and His presence was welcomed. Jesus crashed through the strong prevailing opinions - "Fancy appointing one of those people!" Just as surprising is the way Saint Matthew "crashed out" of long established feelings of being an outcast and a rejected member of society. It must have been overwhelming and satisfying to admit to himself that he had actually been chosen by The Messiah.
it is wise, in times of decision, to invite Jesus into our prayers and thoughts until we believe He is making the decision with us. He who knows the dangers and opportunities inspires our seeing the great potential, even in those who do not believe in themselves. Jesus saw the potential in a reject from society; Simon saw potential in the child Jesus. The practice of looking for God's potential in ourselves or others serves His kingdom. We pray for increased recognition of potential in those we meet. We pray for all in whom we have seen potential today.