He won’t call me
I’m the lowest of the low
Even my own people
Do not want to know
So I sit here at my table
And count the money in
Everyone despises me
What I do is sin
And suddenly he calls me
I do not need to think
Certainly I’ll join him
Join him in a blink
Suddenly I’m clean again
Like breathing in fresh air
Not despised I live again
Gone is all my care
Often we feel unworthy
As though we’ve missed our chance
Messed up lost the plot
Why don’t you go to France
Lost the pride inside ourselves
Wasted what we had
Whatever others think of us
We know that we are bad
Then somebody calls us
Someone knows my name
Wants to spend time with us
Never be the same
Now reclaim your dignity
Know once more your worth
Bless the Lord who calls to you
And gives to you new birth
Brian Fahy
5 March 2022
+ Pope Francis, on being made bishop, took the motto that describes the call of the tax gatherer – miserando atque eligendo’. The Lord had mercy on him and called him. Francis strongly identified with this calling of Matthew. Often people go through their days feeling themselves to be the lowest of the low, for whatever reasons. Simple human contact and association can lift us from such depths of darkness.
Erris Poetry 