Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
Caravaggio, the early 18th-century painter, was known for his ability to capture the raw emotions of important human events. His painting entitled “The Call of St. Matthew” shows a panorama of shocked faces as Jesus simply and directly calls Matthew, the tax collector, to a new lifestyle. There is a natural realism in the moment of the call. Matthew is jolted as he looks up from counting the coins on the table surrounded by friends and strangers. Notice the light pouring through the window and highlighting some of the faces at the table. It’s not difficult to imagine that this shaft of light represented a moment of personal discernment.
Even an artist with the skills of a Caravaggio would be hard-pressed to depict the life-changing turmoil that must have been raging in Matthew’s mind. Had he once heard Jesus speak somewhere, which stirred something deep within him? Did he feel a shift of balance taking place? What was once so sure and comfortable was no longer the same. Was this the needed pivot point for him when Jesus called him by name and invited him to follow and join him for a meal?
The defining moment that determined the direction of our life may not have had all the drama of this famous painting. But when our defining moment came, we were not truly alone. It meant leaving the previous table. It meant new and different responsibilities for all who joined us in being invited by Jesus to the new table.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections