Wednesday, September 21, 2022

 Feast of Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist

(Ephesians 4:1-7.11-13; Matthew 9:9-13)

In a very real sense today we celebrate two people – a preacher and a writer.  The preacher Matthew is distinguished for having given up a lucrative career as a tax collector.  Somewhat like St. Francis of Assisi, Matthew left his wealth to follow Jesus.  Nothing more of substance is said of him in the gospels except what we read in today’s passage.  As an apostle, It is presumed that he gave testimony to Christ’s resurrection and was martyred in the process.

Matthew, the evangelist, has left a marvelous legacy.  His portrait of Jesus balances the human descendent of David and the divine Son of God.  He describes Jesus not only as a wiseman but, more importantly, as an imperial lawgiver.  His construction of Jesus’ five lengthy discourses provides Christians with profound understanding of the moral life, church order, and what to expect at the end of time.  

We wonder about the accuracy of the gospels themselves when we hear things like Matthew, the apostle, was probably not the same as Matthew, the evangelist. Our concern probably reflects a resistance to embrace what is really true, good, and holy.  Both Matthew, the apostle, and Matthew, the evangelist, knew better.  Neither would harbor a doubt that Jesus’ company is the only way of life that brings perfection and transcendence.  Like the tax collector in today’s reading, we should eagerly follow him.