Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 4:63-78 The Tools for Good Works

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

The heavens declare the glory of God.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, ROCK OF CONSTANCY,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

SAINT JOSEPH, 

PRAY FOR US.

Follow me ...

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.

(Mt 9:9, 12-13)

What does Saint Bede the Venerable (673-735) have to say about this?

Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him: Follow me. Jesus saw Matthew, not merely in the usual sense, but more significantly with His merciful understanding of men.

He saw the tax collector, and because He saw Him through the eyes of mercy and chose him, He said to him: Follow me. This meant imitating the pattern of His life-not just walking after Him. Saint John tells us: Whoever says he abides in Christ ought to walk in the same way in which He walked ...

On hearing Christ's voice [then], we open the door to receive Him, as it were, when we freely assent to His promptings and when we give ourselves over to doing what must be done.

(From a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable, priest, in Office of Readings, September 21)

Hearing the call of the Lord, we are united and faith and prayer, and "never lose hope in God's mercy" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:74). No matter then where we find ourselves, or under what circumstances, or with whomever we find ourselves, our souls can be saved, "because God's help is everywhere, and so long as we desire to serve Him, with all our strength, place and position and circumstance are all irrelevant" (Saint Rafael Arnaiz, 1911-1938). We look to Saint Matthew to help us get up immediately and follow Jesus (Mt 9:9). At the same time, we remember, that "Jesus never lets go of our hand ... but He does test us" (Saint Rafael Arnaiz). By the grace of God, we go forth, for no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Lk 9:62).

SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: With our recent rain, then sun, there have been some beautiful cloud formations with a deep blue sky serving as a fitting background. This was yesterday around 5pm, the rain started again around an hour or so later. We hear last Sunday's friendly reminder echoed: Don't forget to look up!

© Gertrude Feick 2022