September 21, 2012

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Reading 1 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ's gift.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Gospel Mt 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, September 21, 2012 >>

St. Matthew

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
View Readings

Psalm 19:2-5

Matthew 9:9-13

COLLECTOR'S ITEM

"Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his post where taxes were collected." —Matthew 9:9

Matthew collected taxes. Because Matthew worked for the Romans, he cooperated in Rome's oppression of the Jewish people. Therefore, when Matthew collected taxes, he also collected injustices and enemies. Matthew quit collecting taxes and followed Jesus (see Mt 9:9). Then he collected the sayings and teachings of Jesus, the preaching of the early Church, and the accounts of Jesus' miracles and healings. He put all this together to compose his Gospel.

You may be a collector yourself. You may collect stamps, baseball cards, antiques, or even art. But what do you collect spiritually? Some people collect compulsions. They pick up one after another. Others collect fears. They "live in fear" (see Lk 12:32). Some collect unforgiveness, resentment, and grudges. Others collect hurts. They have so many more hurts than healings.

As Matthew did, let's leave the spiritual garbage we've collected over the years and follow Jesus. Then we can start a new collection — a collection of healings, forgivenesses, freedoms, and commitments to the Lord.

Human beings have the tendency to collect something. Whatever we collect, may it give glory to God (see 1 Cor 10:31).

Prayer: Father, I give up many of my collections to start a new collection for You.

Promise: "Live a life worthy of the calling you have received, with perfect humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another lovingly." —Eph 4:1-2

Praise: St. Matthew, once a greedy tax collector, left his job to follow Jesus. He then wrote: "How blest are the poor in spirit; the reign of God is theirs" (Mt 5:3).

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