For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/092107.shtml
In the Old Testament, God was always looking for a few righteous people who were faithful to his covenant. Whether it was Noah, Abraham, Moses or David, God was always looking to get rid of those who were unfaithful and idolatrous, and to re-establish his kingdom among the righteous. These great figures like Noah, Abraham, Moses and David are a great inspiration to us to be faithful to God. They are rightfully our heroes and our fathers in the faith.
As we progress through salvation history, however, it is interesting to see that God chooses not men who are more and more righteous to further his kingdom, but those who are less and less righteous. The first thing Peter said to the Lord after the great catch of fish was this – depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man. St. Paul considered himself the foremost sinner in all the world, yet by the mercy of God he was chosen to be the greatest evangelizer of all the apostles. Today we commemorate Matthew the great apostle and evangelist, who was called while still at the customs post presumably cheating people. Indeed, Matthew is not chosen to be an apostle because of his righteousness, but because Christ came to call sinners.
In salvation history God reveals himself as more and more merciful. Through Jesus Christ, He reveals Himself not as the one who wants to annihilate the unfaithful, but the one who has a priority for seeking what has been lost. Christ descends further and further into humanity to seek and to find us, so we should not be surprised that He is calling Matthew and has no problem eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. But he will descend even further into our humanity, being willing to take on not simply the jeering of those who think He is being infected with the filth of sinners, but also laying upon his shoulders the guilt of us all.
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