I am astonished at the quick insights into the characters of Saul and Matthew of the two prophets, Samuel and Jesus! Upon meeting Saul for the first time, Samuel immediately anoints him as Commander-in-Chief of Israel. Similarly, Jesus, seeing Matthew for the first time, calls him away from his shameful employment as a tax collector into discipleship. What did each of these prophetic figures see in Saul and Matthew that gave them such confidence in their capacities for leadership? Maybe we should all try to put ourselves in the shoes of these two chosen ones (Saul for kingship, Matthew for discipleship) and ask ourselves: "To what is God calling me at this time in my life?" For it is simply true (and we know this by faith) that God always wants each and everyone of us to be heralds of his love, instruments of reconciliation, partners in the re-creation of our world. The difference between Saul, Matthew (and Mary, for instance) and us is that they had the humility and grace to simply say, "Yes."

We have just come out of the Christmas season and heard angels heralding new beginnings. We have celebrated our own newborn selves, fathered by God and mothered by our humanity, called into a fuller realization of the divine potential that exists in each of us. Let's pray especially today that our minds begin to grasp who we are as God's children, that our hearts become more open to where God wants us to be, that we resist love less and embrace our belovedness more. For as long as we are willing to be part of God's plan, then God has a plan for us.

A final reflection on the reponse of Jesus to those who questioned and challenged his dining with tax collectors and other sinners: "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Isn't it clear from this that we need first of all to be healed of our defects and sinfulness before we can do anything else for others? And that is precisely what God, the Divine Physician does: He knows the broken and unhealed parts of our selves, what may even seem beyond repair, and heals and transforms and makes them one. We become whole and entire under the gaze of the Author of life, the Miracle-worker of everyday existence, the One who has the infinite power as well as the eternal desire to heal them all. Remember, God is our Healer, not our Judge. As Jesus tried so hard to get the religious leaders of his time to see, God is full of mercy, love, and forgiveness, and Who wants to lift us out of our misery into the bliss of knowing that all things are possible for God. God is a divine physician, the One who makes all things new. Let us take ourselves just as we are -with all our needs, defects, and mistakes- to the Only One who can restore us totally and transform us utterly. Then, with new meaning, today's psalm can echo from the depths of our being: "Lord, in your strength the king is glad ... for you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face."