[Catholic Caucus Devotional] My Catholic Life! Catholic Daily Reflections: From Sinner to Saint

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.” Matthew 9:9

Saint Matthew, whom we honor today, makes following Christ seem so simple. Jesus said, “Follow me,” and Matthew did so, leaving behind his former life and all the baggage he carried. Or did he? Though Matthew’s instant response is inspiring, we should not presume that everything became easy from that moment on. When we have deeply ingrained habits of sin, it takes time and grace to root them out. But none of that healing can begin until we take the first step, which Matthew courageously did in today’s Gospel.

After leaving his customs post, Matthew hosted a dinner for Jesus in his home. Though his home may have been comfortable and the food rich, Matthew—like any new convert—had a long way to go. Tax collectors were despised by nearly everyone, except fellow tax collectors and those branded as sinners. The Jews saw them as traitors to both faith and nation, often barring them from synagogue and Temple worship. Their families, too, were commonly treated with contempt, sometimes even disowned. Ironically, even the Romans, for whom they collected taxes, looked down on them, as they were not true members of the Empire.

This religious and social isolation inflicted deep suffering on these “sinners.” Though tax collectors may have lived outwardly lavish lives, their hearts often bore the sting of loneliness and rejection. It was into this wounded world that Jesus stepped when He encountered Matthew.

The fact that Matthew followed Jesus quickly and eagerly reveals much about Matthew’s inner life. He had heard of this new preacher—perhaps even whispers that He might be the Messiah—and the news had stirred something within. When this rabbi not only noticed him but spoke compassionately to him, commanding him to follow and accepting an invitation to dine in his home, it must have awakened a flood of emotion. Perhaps for the first time in years, Matthew felt something stirring within that had long been buried. Freedom, excitement, hope, and curiosity filled him, and he was willing to walk away from the past and begin anew.

But conversion is not the end; it’s only the beginning. Consider the weeks, months, and years that followed. Like us, Matthew likely wrestled with second thoughts. He would have struggled with guilt and shame, felt unworthy to be among Jesus’ disciples, missed aspects of his old life, and faced the unfamiliar turmoil of inner transformation.

Reflect today on the long and often painful journey of conversion and purification that Saint Matthew endured faithfully until the end. According to tradition, Matthew eventually traveled to the region south of the Caspian Sea—modern-day Iran or Armenia—where he gave his life in martyrdom. His most enduring legacy, however, is the Gospel he wrote. If God could use a tax collector and sinner like Matthew to do such great things, He can use each of us as well. Seek Saint Matthew’s intercession. Ponder his Gospel. And pray for the grace to imitate his holy perseverance, one step at a time.

Saint Matthew, when Jesus called, you followed without hesitation. Please pray for me, that I may respond to every prompting of grace as soon as it is offered. Intercede for me, that I—and all followers of Christ—may imitate your heroic journey: from sinner, wounded and isolated, to saint, dwelling forever in the glory of God’s Kingdom. Jesus, call me as You called Matthew, and grant me the grace he received to follow You faithfully to the end. Jesus, I trust in You.

NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY(RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

Today’s First Reading

From: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

A Call to Unity
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[1] I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. [8] Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."

[9] (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he who also descended into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

[11] And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body Christ, [13] 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.

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Commentary:

1-16. The second part of the letter points out certain practical consequences of the teaching given earlier. The underlying theme of the previous chapters was the revelation of the "mystery" of Christ—the calling of all men, Gentiles and Jews, to form a single people, the Church. The second part of the letter begins with an appeal to maintain the unity of the Church in the face of factors making for division-- internal discord (vv. 1-3), misuse of the different gifts or charisms with which Christ endows individuals (v. 7), and the danger of being led astray by heretical ideas (v. 14). Against this, St Paul teaches that the Church's unity is grounded on the oneness of God (vv. 4-6), and that Christ acts with full authority in the building up of his body, through its various ministries (vv. 8-13) and through its members' solidarity (vv. 14-16).

1. The exhortation begins by stating a general principle: a Christian's conduct should be consistent with the calling he has received from God.

Enormous consequences flow from the fact of being called to form part of the Church through Baptism: "Being members of a holy nation," Monsignor Escriva says, "all the faithful have received a call to holiness, and they must strive to respond to grace and to be personally holy [...]. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who founds the holy Church, expects the members of this people to strive continually to acquire holiness. Not all respond loyally to his call. And in the spouse of Christ there are seen, at one and the same time, both the marvel of the way of salvation and the shortcomings of those who take up that way" ("In Love with the Church", 5-6).

Speaking about incorporation into the Church, which is the way of salvation, Vatican II exhorts Catholics to "remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be the more severely judged (see Lk 12:48: 'everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required'; cf. Mt 5:19-20; 7:21-22; 25:41-46; Jas 2:14)" ("Lumen Gentium", 14).

2-3. The virtues which the Apostle lists here are all different aspects of charity which "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14) and is the mark of the true disciple of Christ (cf. Jn 13:35). Charity originates not in man but in God: "it is a supernatural virtue infused by God into our soul by which we love God above everything else for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God" ("St Pius X Catechism", 898). In its decree on ecumenism the Second Vatican Council shows the perennial relevance of these words of St Paul: "There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion. For it is from interior renewal of mind (cf. Eph 4:23), from self-denial and unstinted love, that desires of unity take their rise and develop in a mature way. We should therefore pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be genuinely self-denying, humble, gentle in the service of others and to have an attitude of brotherly generosity toward them" ("Unitatis Redintegratio", 7).

Charity is basic to the building up of a peaceful human society. 'The consciousness of being trespassers against each other goes hand in hand with the call to fraternal solidarity, which St Paul expressed in his concise exhortation to 'forbear one another in love'. What a lesson of humility is to be found here with regard to man, with regard both to one's neighbor and to oneself! What a school of good will for daily living, in the various conditions of our existence!" (John Paul II, "Dives In Misericordia", 14).

The peace which unites Christians is the peace which Christ brings, or rather it is Christ himself (cf. 2:14). By having the same faith and the same Spirit, "all find themselves", says St John Chrysostom, "brought together in the Church--old and young, poor and rich, adult and child, husband and wife: people of either sex and of every condition become one and the same, more closely united than the parts of a single body, for the unity of souls is more intimate and more perfect than that of any natural substance. However, this unity is maintained only by 'the bond of peace'. It could not exist in the midst of disorder and enmity.... This is a bond which does not restrict us, which unites us closely to one another and does not overwhelm us: it expands our heart and gives us greater joy than we could ever have if we were unattached. He who is strong is linked to the weaker one to carry him and prevent him from falling and collapsing. Does the weak person feel weak?: the stronger person tries to build up his strength. 'A brother helped is like a strong city', says the wise man (Prov 18:19)" ("Hom. on Eph, 9, ad loc".).

Union of hearts, affections and intentions is the result of the action of the Holy Spirit in souls, and it makes for effectiveness and strength in apostolate.

"Do you see? One strand of wire entwined with another, many woven tightly together, form that cable strong enough to lift huge weights.

"You and your brothers, with wills united to carry out God's will, can overcome all obstacles" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 480).

4-6. To show the importance of unity in the Church, and the theological basis of that unity, St Paul quotes an acclamation which may well have been taken from early Christian baptismal liturgy. It implies that the unity of the Church derives from the unicity of the divine essence. The text also reflects the three persons of the Blessed Trinity who are at work in the Church and who keep it together--one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father.

There is "only one" Holy Spirit, who brings about and maintains the unity of Christ's mystical body; and there is "only one" such body, the Church: "After being lifted up on the cross and glorified, the Lord Jesus pours forth the Spirit whom he had promised, and through whom he has called and gathered together the people of the New Covenant, which is the Church, into a unity of faith, hope and charity, as the Apostle teaches us (Eph 4:4-5; Gal 3:27-28) [...] It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in believers and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ, for he [the Spirit] is the principle of the Church's unity" (Vatican II, "Unitatis Redintegratio", 2). All--Gentiles as well as Jews are called to join this Church; all, therefore, share the one single hope--that of being saints which is implied in the vocation they have received.

Recognition of there being only one Lord, who is head of the mystical body, underlines the unity that should obtain among all the many members of this single body. All its members are solidly built on Christ when they confess "only one" faith--the faith that he taught and which the Apostles and the Church have expressed in clear statements of doctrine and dogma. "There can be only one faith; and so, if a person refuses to listen to the Church, he should be considered, so the Lord commands, as a heathen and a publican (cf. Mt 18:17)" (Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis", 10). All Christians have also received only one Baptism, that is, a Baptism by means of which, after making a profession of faith, they join the other members of the Church as their equals. Since there is only "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," "there is a common dignity of members deriving from their rebirth in Christ, a common grace as sons, a common vocation to perfection, one salvation, one hope and undivided charity. In Christ and in the Church there is, then, no inequality arising from race or nationality, social condition or sex, for 'there is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (Gal 3:28; cf. Col 3:11)" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 32).

God, the Father of all, is, in the last analysis, the basis of the natural unity of mankind. Pope Pius XII, after recalling that the sacred books tell us that all the rest of mankind originated from the first man and woman, and how all the various tribes and peoples grew up which are scattered throughout the world, exclaimed, "This is a wonderful vision which allows us to reflect on the unity of mankind: all mankind has a common origin in the Creator, as we are told, 'one God and father of us all' (Eph 4:6); moreover, all men and women share one and the same nature: all have a material body and an immortal and spiritual soul" ("Summi Pontificatus", 18). God is "above all": his lordship and control over things means that he is the author and maintainer of their unity. Throughout history he has acted "through all" his children, that is, believers, whom he has used to bring about unity among men and over all created things. And he dwells "in all" the faithful, for they belong to him; even the deepest recesses of their hearts are his.

7. The diversity of graces or charisms which accompany the various kinds of vocation given to members of the Church do not undermine its unity; rather, they enhance it, because it is Christ himself who bestows these gifts, as St Paul teaches in vv. 8-10. Christ also provides the Church with ministers who devote themselves to building up his body (vv. 11-12).

So just as there is a great variety of personality and situation, the Church evidences many kinds of "charisms" or different ways of actually living out the calling to holiness which God addresses to all. "In the Church", John Paul II points out, "as the community of the people of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit's working, each member has 'his own special gift', as St Paul teaches (1 Cor 7:7). Although this 'gift' is a personal vocation and a form of participation in the Church's saving work, it also serves others, builds the Church and the fraternal communities in the various spheres of human life on earth" ("Redemptor Hominis", 21).

11-12. The Apostle here refers to certain ministries or offices in the Church, which are performed not only in a charismatic way, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, but as an assignment or ministry entrusted to the particular individual by the glorified Lord.

These ministries have to do with preaching (teaching) and government. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 and Romans 12:6-8, mention is made, alongside ministries, of other charisms which complete the array of the gifts to be found in the mystical body of Christ. St Paul here presents them as gifts given by Christ, the head of his body, gifts which make for the strengthening of its unity and love. In this connection, see the quotation from "Lumen Gentium", 7, in the note on 1:22-23 above. These graces are provided by the Holy Spirit who, "distributing various kinds of spiritual gifts and ministries (cf. 1 Cor 12:4-11), enriches the Church of Jesus Christ with different functions in order to equip the saints for the works of service (cf. Eph 4:12)" ("Unitatis Redintegratio", 2).

In the list which St Paul gives the first to appear are apostles. These may be the first apostles (including Paul himself) or a wider group (cf. 1 Cor 15:7; Rom 16:7) which includes others sent as missionaries to establish new Christian communities. Alongside them (as in Eph 2:20; 3:5) come prophets, who are also the bed-rock of the Church, trustees of revelation. Essentially a prophet was not someone "sent" but rather one whose role was to "upbuild, encourage and console" (cf. 1 Cor 14:3; Acts 13:1) and who normally stayed within a particular community. The "evangelists" were others, who had not received a direct revelation but who devoted themselves to preaching the Gospel which the apostles had passed on to them (cf. Acts 21:8; 2 Tim 4:5). It may be that St Paul mentions them here, along with apostles and prophets, because it was evangelists who first preached the Gospel in Ephesus. The last to be mentioned are pastors and teachers, whose role was that of ruling and giving ongoing instruction to particular communities.

There is no necessary reason why the terminology used in apostolic times for ministries in the Church should be the same as that used nowadays; however, the ministries themselves do not change: "Guiding the Church in the way of all truth (cf. Jn 16:13) and unifying her in communion and in the works of ministry, the Holy Spirit bestows upon her varied hierarchic and charismatic gifts, and in this way directs her; and he adorns her with his fruits (cf. Eph 4: 12; 1 Cor 12:4; Gal 5:22)" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 4).

And, of course, all Christians have a responsibility to spread Christ's teaching, to cooperate in the Church's work of catechesis. "Catechesis always has been and always will be", John Paul II teaches, "a work for which the whole Church must feel responsible and must wish to be responsible. But the Church's members have different responsibilities, derived from each one's mission. Because of their charge, pastors have, at differing levels, the chief responsibility for fostering, guiding and coordinating catechesis [...]. Priests and religious have in catechesis a preeminent field for their apostolate. On another level, parents have a unique responsibility. Teachers, the various ministers of the Church, catechists, and also organizers of social communications, all have in various degrees very precise responsibilities in this education of the believing conscience, an education that is important for the life of the Church and affects the life of society as such" ("Catechesi Tradendae", 16).

13. The building up of the body of Christ occurs to the extent that its members strive to hold on to the truths of faith and to practice charity. The "knowledge of the Son of God" refers not only to the object of faith--which is basically the acceptance of Christ as true God and true man--but also to a vital and loving relationship with him. A conscientious approach to the personal obligations that faith implies is the mark of maturity, whereas an undeveloped, childish personality is marked by a certain instability.

As Christians develop in faith and love, they become more firmly inserted into the body of Christ and make a greater contribution to its development. In this way "mature manhood" is reached: this seems to refer not to the individual Christian but rather to the "total Christ" or "whole Christ" in St Augustine's phrase, that is, all the members in union with the head, Christ. "It is due to this communication of the Spirit of Christ that all the gifts, virtues, and miraculous powers which are found eminently, most abundantly, and fontally in the head, stream into all the members of the Church and in them are perfected daily according to the place of each in the mystical body of Jesus Christ; and that, consequently, the Church becomes as it were the fullness and completion of the Redeemer, Christ in the Church being in some sense brought to complete achievement" (Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis", 34).

"The fullness of Christ" must mean the Church itself or Christians incorporated into Christ; the "fullness" ("pleroma") of a boat is the sum total of the gear, crew and cargo which "fill" the boat, and mean it is ready to weigh anchor. "As members of the living Christ, incorporated into him and made like him by Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, all the faithful have an obligation to collaborate in the spreading and growth of his body, so that they might bring it to fullness as soon as possible" (Vatican II, "Ad Gentes", 36).

Today’s Gospel Reading

From: Matthew 9:9-13

The Call of Matthew
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[9] As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he rose and followed Him.

[10] And as He sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [12] But when He heard it, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

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Commentary:

9. "Tax office": a public place for the payment of taxes. On "following Jesus", see the note on Matthew 8:18-22.

The Matthew whom Jesus calls here is the Apostle of the same name and the human author of the first Gospel. In Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 he is called Levi the son of Alphaeus or simply Levi.

In addition to Baptism, through which God calls all Christians (cf. note on Matthew 8:18-22), the Lord can also extend, to whomever He chooses, a further calling to engage in some specific mission in the Church. This second calling is a special grace (cf. Matthew 4:19-21; Mark 1:17-20; John 1:30; etc.) additional to the earlier calling through Baptism. In other words, it is not man who takes the initiative; it is Jesus who calls, and man who responds to this call by his free personal decision: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16).

Matthew's promptitude in "following" Jesus' call is to be noted. When God speaks, soul may be tempted to reply, "Tomorrow; I'm not ready yet." In the last analysis this excuse, and other excuses, are nothing but a sign of selfishness and fear (different from that fear which can be an additional symptom of vocation: cf. John 1). "Tomorrow" runs the risk of being too late.

As in the case of the other Apostles, St. Matthew is called in the midst of the ordinary circumstances of his life: "What amazes you seems natural to me: that God has sought you out in the practice of your profession! That is how He sought the first, Peter and Andrew, James and John, beside their nets, and Matthew, sitting in the custom-house. And--wonder of wonders!—Paul, in his eagerness to destroy the seed of the Christians" (St J. Escriva, "The Way", 799).

10-11. The attitude of these Pharisees, who are so prone to judge others and classify them as just men or sinners, is at odds with the attitude and teaching of Jesus. Earlier on, He said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1), and elsewhere He added, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7).

The fact is that all of us are sinners; and our Lord has come to redeem all of us. There is no basis, therefore, for Christians to be scandalized by the sins of others, since any one of us is capable of committing the vilest of sins unless God's grace comes to our aid.

12. There is no reason why anyone should be depressed when he realizes he is full of failings: recognition that we are sinners is the only correct attitude for us to have in the presence of God. He has come to seek all men, but if a person considers himself to be righteous, by doing so he is closing the door to God; all of us in fact are sinners.

13. Here Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, keeping the hyperbole of the Semitic style. A more faithful translation would be: "I desire mercy more than sacrifice". It is not that our Lord does not want the sacrifices we offer Him: He is stressing that every sacrifice should come from the heart, for charity should imbue everything a Christian does—especially his worship of God (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Matthew 5:23-24).

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