No ifs. No buts.

The Gospel tells of radical stories.
Such is the case of Matthew's response.
There were no conditions nor compromises.
No ifs. No buts.
The idealist in me declares maybe it was to drive home the point that the radical call of Jesus demands a radical response.
The realist in me cries out, Matthew must have wavered, doubted, faltered - just like Peter, Thomas, Judas.
The optimist in me begs to look again for something that I may have left out.
For some days, weeks even, I just cannot put a finger to this.
Until Fr. Hans asked me to take a seat so he can share with me a valuable piece of advice.
"We priests must accept that we will have administrative matters on our hands - decide well and decide fast, for that is not what we are about.
We are for service - that is where we should spend our time. Preparing homilies, being with people especially the poor, listening to their concerns and dreams..."
The Matthew in me has been too focused, to a point of taking pleasure in attending to administrative matters, most possibly for the feeling of fulfillment that accomplishments bring.
And yet the call was - follow me. Not do this, do that.
The Matthew in me is once again being reminded - yes, in life, in decisions, in judgments, I may have wavered, doubted, faltered at times.
That is part of life.
But that is not what the story of Matthew is alI about.
It is about the radical response.
Of loving Jesus, of being with people.
No ifs. No buts.