Feast of Saint Matthew

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 4:63-78

Mass: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Resp Ps 19; Mt 9:9-13

Their message goes out through all the earth.

JESUS, TEACHER OF THE EVANGELISTS, 

HAVE MERCY ON US.

As we celebrate Saint Matthew, we are grateful for our ever merciful God and reflect on His many attributes of mercy as they were revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai: The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Ex 34:6-7). This is Our God who showed mercy to "despised tax collector" Matthew. Our God, merciful and gracious, extends the same mercy to each and every one of us, at least those of us who are in need of a physician, for as Jesus says in today's Gospel: Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do (Mt 9:12). Jesus, the Divine Physician, did not come to call the righteous but sinners (Mt 9:13). We go forth, then, with Saint Matthew's intercession, and follow Jesus, taking with us Saint Benedict's last tool for good works: "And finally, never lose hope in God's mercy" (RB 4:74).

Mercy is most empowering, liberating, and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. The people who haven't earned it, who haven't even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion.

(Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy, p. 314)

SAINT MATTHEW, PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020