Why did Jesus choose a tax collector to be one of His closest followers? In this episode of A Word of Hope, Fr. Brendan Curran, OP, reflects on the calling of Levi (St. Matthew) and what it means for us today.
Joining us from the Community of St. Martin de Porres on Chicago's West Side, Fr. Brendan explores the Gospel story where Jesus ignores social norms and criticism from the Pharisees to dine with "sinners." This is a powerful reminder that the Apostles were not perfect people with perfect lives—they were flawed, messy individuals just like us.
As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, this message resonates even deeper: God calls you exactly where you are, regardless of your background, your accent, your past, or your struggles.
In this video, you will learn:
Why the imperfections of the Apostles give us hope.
How to tune out the "noise" of judgment from others.
The spiritual significance of being called by name.
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🙏 Timeline:
0:00 - Introduction from Fr. Brendan Curran (Chicago, IL)
0:20 - The Calling of Levi (Matthew) from his customs post
0:42 - The Pharisees criticize Jesus for eating with sinners
1:05 - The Apostles: A mix of limited and messy characters
1:25 - The invitation to go deep: God calls you where you are
1:35 - A reflection for Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend
1:55 - God sees the blessings in you
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#Catholic #WordOfHope #StMatthew #CallingOfLevi #MartinLutherKingJr #MLKDay #Inclusion #Faith #GospelReflection #Chicago #DominicanFriars