Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 21, 2022
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.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“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.”
Reflection
In an era influenced by digital kingdoms dependent on social media followers, it is timely to ask ourselves, why do we continue to follow Jesus? One of my most memorable “follow me” experiences remains fresh: discerning the call of Jesus to leave a seemingly secure future half a century ago while serving in the Air Force on the island of Okinawa.
I had entered a transition program, serving for several weeks at Christ the King School there before returning home in search of a position in lay ecclesial ministry. The call of Jesus to serve the Church had tugged at my heart for years, but I had no idea how or where.
With the warming grip of the Holy Spirit and confidence born of faith and hope, prayerful discernment directed me along a risky path forward. How could I then—or now—do otherwise?
Imagine the scene of today’s gospel passage. Jesus moves along, seeing Matthew at his post.
Perhaps Jesus sees something distinctive in Matthew. After all, Matthew occupies a position
of no laudable reputation. Might he refuse to follow Jesus? Couldn’t Jesus have approached
another with a more impressive resume?
Matthew responds without delay to Jesus’ discipleship invitation. He ends up “at table” with
him, with more meals to come. Perhaps Jesus’ response to the objections of mixing and eating with people regarded as undesirable provides a glimpse into how the table conversation might have progressed. Undoubtedly, Matthew experienced mercy—as do we—offered by the one he chose to follow.
Jesus’ healing love for Matthew and us is unbounded. We are disciples who seek to follow Christ here and now, not in seclusion but along pathways enlivened by diverse peoples yearning for the compassionate accompaniment that Christ offers to all. Are we ready, right now, to get up and follow him again and again?
Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist, pray for us!
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 (for a fuller explanation of the authorship of the Gospel of Matthew, see this link).
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 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!