Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 21, 2020
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Today’s gospel reminds us that Jesus not only dined “with tax collectors and sinners,” which brought criticism and scorn, he even called a tax collector to be one of his closest disciples. Today, on the feast of St. Matthew–the former tax collector and great evangelist–we remember that Jesus calls each one of us to follow him, regardless or our sinfulness.
In fact, those who recognize their sinfulness are able to follow Jesus the best. If we know that we are sinners then we know that we need to repent, seek forgiveness, and change our lives. Those who are convinced of their own righteousness, on the other hand, don’t feel the need to make any changes at all. Jesus gives the example of a sick person and a well person: the well person feels no need to seek out a physician but the sick person, because of his infirmity, knows that he needs help.
The Covid-19 pandemic has really brought this home to me. Before this situation, it was all too easy for us to take for granted our health and safety. Now, the fragile and interconnect nature of our existence is right before our eyes. Fortunately, my family and I have remained well in this challenging time but we know others who have been very sick. The death toll from the virus continues to climb.
Can this pandemic make me more aware of my need for the divine physician? Even if I remain healthy, God willing, the far reaching impacts of this virus are an occasion for reflection on my life, my choices, and my sins. God uses the events of the world to draw us closer to Jesus’ message of mercy and love. Even a pandemic can be the opportunity for repentance, conversion, and greater discipleship. We need the divine physician now more than ever!
Prayer
“Follow me.” Lord, you spoke two simple words and they changed Matthew’s life forever. You speak those same words to each one of us “Follow me” and our response changes our lives forever. Thank you for inviting us to follow you. Like Matthew, the tax collector, help us know our own “sickness” and thus our great need for you. Help us to know our need for your mercy which you give to us freely and without reservation. We pray this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Despite his role as a despised tax collector, St. Matthew was called by Jesus to become one of his closest followers.
All tax collectors were hated in Judea because they were greedy and extortionist. Jewish tax collectors like Matthew were especially reviled because they gathered taxes for the occupying and oppressive Roman government. Jewish families generally refused to marry into a family that claimed a tax collector among them. Tax collectors were excluded from religious worship and barred from business and civil affairs.
Yet, Jesus passed by Matthew’s customs post and said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew got up and followed him (Mt 9:9).
Matthew’s post was in Capernaum, where, for a time, Jesus had lived, preached, and worked miracles, so we can assume that Matthew had heard of Jesus and perhaps even listened to him before their encounter. Perhaps Matthew secretly longed to give his life over to the kingdom of God described by this man who worked wonders. When he finally came face to face with Jesus, he jumped at the chance—the personal invitation from Jesus must have been the opportunity Matthew was looking for. He left everything—his occupation and his relationships—in an instant.
Matthew was counted among the 12 disciples, and is traditionally cited as the author of a book of the Gospels.
The four evangelists are depicted by symbols that come from Ezekiel and the book of Revelation. John is represented by the eagle because his Gospel begins with high-minded, soaring theology of the Word made flesh. Mark is depicted by the lion because his Gospel begins with John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness (like a lion); Jesus also often appears with royal, king-like dignity in his Gospel. Luke is shown as an ox because of the importance of sacrifice in his Gospel. Matthew is symbolized by a man or angel because he begins the Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, emphasizing his humanity.
A number of relics of St. Matthew rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, where he is also depicted in several places. St. Matthew is also shown in this stained glass window from the chapel of the Stayer Center for Executive Education because he is patron saint of those who work with finances. This small window in the Morrissey Hall chapel (above) shows the saint as well.
St. Matthew, you were the reviled tax collector who became patron saint of those who work with finances—pray for us!