09/21/2024
Oh St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist.
Your feast day is another opportunity to reflect on your personality, conversion, and evangelism.
You were of Jewish origin and was also called Levi. But the Jews despised you because you worked for a foreign government against your people. As a tax collector, your social circle was limited to your fellow tax collectors. And together you were all called public sinners and everyone deemed you enemy of the people.
Oh Matthew the Chosen. How did it feel the day you were called to follow Christ? I imagined the Lord's desire to save you. How did he do it? Did he stand in line at your business center pretending to be a client? If you were polite you must have asked him, “how can I help you.” I would imagine the Lord told you, "Yes, I need your help, “come follow me.”
You weighed his worth; though he looked poor, you could see more than worldly wealth. You perceived in him a treasure of heavenly worth. You did not hesitate to follow the Lord.
Oh Mathew the Educated Apostle. But I am wondering what it was like to be among those who were somewhat different. The other Apostles were not as educated as you were. Did they tell you that your education did not matter? Did they avoid you and make you feel like being well educated was another crime?
Oh Matthew the Repented Sinner. Did the other disciples remind you that you were a public sinner? Did they welcome you? Or they isolated you and never wanted anything to do with you?
Oh Matthew the Tax Collector. Based on your resume in dealing with finances, were you the one who audited Judas Iscariot’s handling of the money in the treasury? I am curious to know. Did you inform the Lord that Judas Iscariot was not keeping accurate records of the finances? Did Judas helping himself with the treasury remind you of your past sins?
I am thinking that you may have been with a bunch of people with personal issues and weaknesses. Why did they choose to not mention your name any other place except when you were called and listed alongside the other Apostles? Does that mean you did not get along with others? Or they forgot the other things you did? Or was it that you humbly accepted being ignored and chose isolation as an opportunity to document what happened.
Oh St. Matthew the Evangelist. I believe that while others jockeyed to be leaders in the community, you chose in humility to be alone and spend time writing our lord's teachings. You could give up everything but not your pen and paper. You proved that the pen and paper in the hands of an enlightened individual are mightier than a Prince and his sword. You gave us the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as attributed to you.
I believe you have done some mighty deeds, preached and converted sinners. But your interest in directing your writing for the Jewish people tells a lot about you. It shows your love for your people and desire to make it up to them. Though they may have lost a lot due to high tax laws you promoted, you did not want them to lose the treasury of the Kingdom of God. You invited them to accept Jesus as the Immanuel promised in the prophecy of Isaiah who will be with them till the end of time. You made them understand that the abiding presence of Jesus in their lives is worth more than all precious stones put together.
As we celebrate your feast today we celebrate your work and contribution to Christianity. By the gospel attributed to you you have evangelized every Christian. We glorify God who saw the talent in you and empowered you with graces to serve his followers through your skills. Pray for us that we be enlightened not only by what you wrote but also by the humility and diligence you practiced. Amen.
(These questions are merely to help raise curiosity and interest about St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist)
Fr-Rowland Onuegbu
