Passing by the customs house, Jesus sees a man despised by many and says, “Follow me.” Without hesitation, Matthew, the tax collector, rises and follows. In that brief encounter, a life is transformed.

Jesus’ two simple words in this Sunday’s Gospel remains one of the most powerful and challenging invitations in Scripture. For us Christians living in the modern world, Matthew’s response raises an important question: what does it mean to follow Jesus today, especially in societies that have become increasingly secularised?

Let’s face the fact: many live as though God is irrelevant to daily life. Some people are scrunting to survive, while others seek success through wealth, influence, personal achievement, or online visibility rather than by faith, service, and holiness.

Religious belief? Pushed to the periphery of public discourse.

Moral truths? Drink water and mind your business.

In such an environment, discipleship can seem difficult and countercultural.

Yet the Gospel reminds us that Jesus doesn’t call perfect people. He calls everyday people —men, women, even children, youth, seniors, those with physical disabilities, often with complicated pasts, and perhaps even dysfunctional lives.

Matthew was certainly not chosen because he was respected by society. He was chosen because Jesus saw beyond his failures and recognised the possibility of conversion.

The same remains true even today. Christ continues to call us, everyday people, who may feel totally distant from the Church, burdened by sin, or discouraged by life’s struggles.

Encounter not condemnation

The meal that follows Matthew’s calling reveals another essential aspect of Christian discipleship. Jesus sits at a table with more tax collectors and sinners, provoking criticism from the watching Pharisees. His wise response: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.” He then recalls the words of the prophet Hosea: “What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.”

In our world often marked by division, judgment, and exclusion, Christians are called to embody that same mercy. The Church cannot become a community concerned only with those already inside its walls. Like Christ, believers must be willing to encounter those on the margins, the forgotten, those who may have lost hope.

This message has been strongly emphasised by Pope Leo XIV. Addressing Catholic charitable organisations, he recently reminded the faithful that care for the poor and vulnerable is “an integral part of authentic Christian living,” even when the work is difficult and resources are limited.

And in another address, he said that the Church must take a clear stand “in favour of the poor, the exploited, the victims of violence and war, and all those who suffer in body and in spirit.”

These words echo the example of Jesus in today’s Gospel. For true discipleship isn’t simply about attending Holy Mass only or preserving religious traditions. It is about carrying Christ’s love, mercy and compassion into the world.

Such a witness is desperately needed today where loneliness, poverty, addiction, violence, and spiritual emptiness affect millions of people, including many who have drifted away from faith.

The answer then is not condemnation but encounter. Just as Jesus approached Matthew where he was, Christians must meet people where they are, and invite them toward a deeper relationship with God.

The story of Matthew the tax collector offers hope for every generation. Authentic discipleship requires courage, mercy, and a willingness to leave behind whatever prevents us from following Him. And what of the Gospel’s challenge? It remains unchanged: when Jesus says, “Follow me,” the question is whether we, like Matthew, are prepared to rise and go.