The theme of today’s readings is Calls. But it is God who calls, and infact He calls all of us, as noted in the Call of Samuel a few days back. God calls us all, and we are destined for greatness with God walking with us. But greatness comes in how we engage Him in our lives. That is what the two readings point to us.
In the reading from 1 Samuel, we know that the Israelites have revolted against Yahweh their true God. They wanted a physical-seeable-able king. They wanted security from the troubles around them. And God accepts this, and steps behind and gives them a King. Saul like David who will follow Him is a very able King, and in many ways even better than David. Both are youngest of the children, not regarded much and considered unimportant. But their similarities end here. David has a working and close relationship with Yahweh, not so Saul. Saul does not know anything about God and His ways, and no one teaches Him. And this is what will become the downfall of Saul, because as great as he was, he was unteachable, and did not have the humility to learn.
We also note like in the case of Samuel, God goes after Saul, to elect Him to be King, gives him all opportunities and promises to greatness, even offers him the covenants of Abraham, but alas, his insecurities undo him.
In the Gospels Matthew is the same. A self-centered Jew/or someone who has disowned his people. He has chosen himself and thus is supporting the Romans by working for them. He probably may have not known much of his faith, or even if he did, did not care for it, and its hypocrisy. But I presume he is a good man and sincere man. Not indulging in cheating anyone, and having a relationship with God/thirst for God. That is why God approaches Him, just like he approached Nathaniel, and invites Levi/Matthew, ‘Come, Follow Me.’
The lesson to note here is that, though we are privileged, because Jesus calls each of us, what happens after that is in our hands. To put in a single word, are we ready for Baptism. Baptism as we know is dying to our past, and being re-born in the love of God/Holy Spirit. But it also means we start to reacquire knowledge and understanding, but this time at the feet of Jesus.