The Feast of St. Matthew

 

We children of God’s mercy.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Feast of St. Matthew, an Apostle and Evangelist, Thursday 21st September, 2023
Texts: Ephesians 4:1-7.11-13; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 9:9-13 

We celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, today. He received from God through Christ the grace of two gifts: the gifts of an apostle and evangelist. We can affirm this in today’s first reading as St. Paul says, “But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers”. He is an evangelist because we have the gospel he preached in written form. He was one of the twelve apostles that Jesus chose to grow and govern His Church.  

St. Matthew understood the gifts of God to him and used them according to the mind of the giver. He knew the purpose of God’s gifts that they are to equip him to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. He grew and governed the Church according to the mind of Christ as an apostle. Being given the gift of an evangelist, he left with us the gospel he preached in writing. He continues to preach to us whenever we read his gospel.  

Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called

Today, St. Paul exhorts us thus: “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace when use our gifts for one common goal. The goal is the building of the body of Christ. The use of our gifts should be devoid of self-interest; it should all be in the interest of building of Christ’s body.  

We hear in today’s gospel reading the story of the calling of St. Matthew. Jesus said to him, “Follow me”. We read, “And he rose and followed him.” He rose to follow Jesus, leaving behind his self-interest. In following Jesus Christ, we have to leave behind our self-interest. St. Paul reminds us today that is a way of life befitting us for following the call, “follow me.” In his word: “I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called”.

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners

We learn from the words of Jesus Christ that the call of Matthew was based on God’s mercy, not merit. He says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’" This also tells us that we owe our call to God’s mercy; it is not by our merit. We children of God’s mercy. Being children of God’s mercy, we are to show mercy.  

Prayer  

O God, who with untold mercy were pleased to choose as an Apostle Saint Matthew, the tax collector, grant that, sustained by his example and intercession, we may merit to hold firm in following you. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke