The wrong kind of friends

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Biographical Information about St. Matthew
Readings for Thursday

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

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:2-3, 4-5
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Gospel Mt 9:9-13

Reflection:

Tradition holds that St. Matthew, following his call and wanderings with the Lord, “…was also amongst the Apostles who were present at the Ascension, and afterwards withdrew to an upper chamber, in Jerusalem, praying in union with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:10 and 1:14)[1]. He was not mentioned prominently in even his own Gospel, although we do have the account given today of his call and response. Other historical accounts have him staying around Jerusalem for about 15 years and finishing his Gospel then going off to ancient Ethiopia (which is not present day Ethiopia) where he was martyred (not real clear on how that happened either).

What we are given, however, is that of the disciples called by the Lord, Matthew (Levi) was the one who gives hope for those who are marginalized. As a custom agent, he served the civil government under Herod Antipas and was not accepted by the Pharisees (that is an understatement, traditionally they were shunned). Think of them as you might think of an IRS agent (not that I have anything against people who work for the IRS, this is just a metaphor (gosh, I hope I don’t get audited)). That is why, when Jesus was invited to dinner following Matthews call, he was eating with “tax collectors and sinners.” These were probably the friends of Matthew, his colleagues. Jesus then proclaims his prophetic statement; “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus was the great unifier. He took upon himself the sins of all of us. From some he takes a greater burden, but all contribute to it. And look where that particular sinner went once he chose to follow the Lord. He followed the Lord on his journeys through the region. He was with him in the upper room where he blessed and broke bread that was his body for the first time. He was with him in the garden when they took him. He was there, in fear, in the locked room when the Lord came and said to them “Peace be with you.” And for all of us, he recorded those events so we would know, and have faith.

Matthew is a great hope for us all. If he, who was considered by the religious of the day to be unworthy of a place in the assembly of the faithful, was one of the first called by the Lord; then how much more merciful will he be toward us? If Matthew, Levi, the tax collector, was blessed with the gifts of evangelization; how much more will the Lord give us if we ask him?

Yes, today we celebrate the feast of one of the Twelve. When we long to have been there when Jesus walked the earth as man, let us remember the fate of those who were “lucky enough” to be called. Like all his contemporaries, Matthew picked up his cross and followed the Lord to his death. God willing our end will be less brutal and the path easier. It is, however, the one we are called to follow.

Pax

[1] The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight