Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Today's Mass Readings

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. The gospel recounts the story of his transformative call: “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).

This vocation account is so remarkable because Jesus’ call consists of only two words: “Follow me.” And Matthew’s immediate response is equally brief: “he got up and followed him.” Matthew was a tax collector, and in the eyes of the Pharisees, he was from a sinful class of men. Tax gatherers in Jesus’ day had a poor reputation because they were employed by the oppressive Roman government and frequently took a generous cut of the money they collected.

One can only imagine that there must have been something in Jesus’ gaze or tone of voice that anticipated his later words, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Whatever the look on Jesus’ face or the particular sound of his invitation, the fact is that it completely changed Matthew, and he responded without delay.

St. Matthew’s prompt response to Jesus’ call challenges us today to examine our willingness to respond to God’s will. When we gaze upon Jesus’ face, can we glimpse that look of mercy that sees beyond our sins and failures? Can we hear the warmth of his loving voice, which calls us beyond our present limitations into a richer existence in his company? Can we, like Matthew, “get up” from the place where we are stuck and “follow him” on a path to holiness and newness of life?

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB