Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
A tax collector as an Apostle? Tell me more.
Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5
Alleluia: Se Te Deum
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13
Unity in the Body and Diversity of Gifts
In today’s letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Paul is writing during his imprisonment in Rome around AD 60-62, a few years prior to his execution. In this reading, he is urging unity within the community and reminding them that they all have “… one faith, one baptism, …” (Eph 4:5). He continues on to say that Jesus gave us all various talents and vocations for our lives.
11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of ChristEphesians 4:11-12
Each of us are given different talents and vocations from God. As Christians, it is up to us to discern what those are, with God’s help. But not only discern what these are for us, but actually use the talents given and live out our vocation. All of us are called to evangelize by virtue of our baptism as priest, prophet, and king. We may only evangelize to small groups of people, but some may be called to evangelize large groups, like Father Mike Schmitz in the Bible and Catechism in a Year podcasts. If we are parents, we are called to evangelize and teach our children. We can do this by praying with them daily and teaching them to pray. Whether this be with them as they go to school, praying before meals, and a rosary before bed. But this can also be just them watching us pray and teaching them by example.
There is a mother who attends the Saturday morning daily Mass. And she brings her little daughter. The girl is perhaps 3 or 4 years old. She knows the prayers during the Mass, in English and Latin. And she is not afraid to use her tiny voice when she prays. Her mother and father are teaching her well and setting that example for her.
So, we should take this time to reflect. Do we know what our talents are and are we using them for the greater glory of God? Do we know what our vocation in life is and are we living it out? If not, my recommendation would be to pray on it. And perhaps find a spiritual director who can help you with that discernment.
The Call of Matthew
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus calls Matthew the Tax Collector, to follow him and ultimately to become an apostle. As I attended the daily Mass today, the celebrant noted that when Jesus looked upon Matthew sitting at the customs post, he didn’t look at him with disdain and disgust as most of the Jews did. Jesus looked on Matthew with mercy and compassion. Tax collectors were generally not a very popular group of people. Many times, they were Jews who were working for the Roman authorities in collecting taxes due to Rome. And many times, they were extorting taxes that were higher than what were owed and lining their own pockets.
When Jesus visited Matthew’s home and ate with them, there were other tax collectors and sinners there with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees asked his disciples why Jesus did this because normally “righteous” Jews would not be caught associating with those two particular groups.
12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”Matthew 9:12-13
Jesus makes this reference to the Pharisees from the Prophet Hosea. Hosea is talking to the Jews and telling them of God’s preference for kindness and compassion over ritual sacrifice.
For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6
Jesus calls all of us. Whether we are doctors and lawyers, cooks and janitors, or the poor and destitute living on the streets. His mercy abounds in us, and we need to be able to accept that mercy. Too often people say to themselves, ‘I am not worthy of God’s mercy’ or ‘What I have done can never be forgiven’; the Lord knows that I have had those thoughts myself over the past almost 52 years. But it is in those times especially that we need to seek Jesus out. Even if it is going to a church during lunch time or on our way home from work, take time out to visit Jesus in the tabernacle. Let his mercy heal you. When appropriate, take advantage of the Sacraments of Healing, The Anointing of the Sick and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In both of those sacraments, Jesus offers us his mercy and compassion.
So, will you let Jesus show you his mercy today? Will you follow him if He calls you?
The below prayers are from the Diary of St. Faustina.
Prayer for Sinners
O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor 94 sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy, from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equaled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages. Amen (Diary, 72).
Act of Oblation for Sinners
Before Heaven and earth, before all the choirs of Angels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, before all the powers of heaven, I declare to the One Triune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ, Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners, especially for those souls who have lost hope in God’s mercy. This offering consists in my accepting, with total subjection to God’s will, all the sufferings, fears, and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return, I give them all the consolations which my soul receives from my communion with God. In a word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of Divine justice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God, in this way I want to make amends to You for the souls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hope against all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. My Lord and my God, my portion — my portion forever, I do not base this act of oblation on my own strength, but on the strength that flows from the merits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act of self-oblation by pronouncing the following prayer which You Yourself have taught me, Jesus: O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You (Diary, 309)
Today’s meditation music.