Gospel Reflection

September 21, 2012

Friday

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

by Rev. Fr. Erwin dela Cruz

Lunch Mass at Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel

Reading 1 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Gospel Mt 9:9-13

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."

HOMILY

Good afternoon brothers and sisters. Today is the feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist. Who is St. Matthew? We all know that he was a tax collector, a Jew who collected taxes for their Roman conquerors. Therefore, he also collected scorn, hatred and enemies.

 

One day, Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. And he followed Jesus. He quit collecting taxes and started collecting brothers in spirit – the other Apostles. Then he collected facts on Jesus’ early life – His teachings, His thoughts and miracles. And then he wrote them all down into the first book of the New Testament, which is what we have – the Gospel of Matthew.

 

Then after Jesus left, Matthew preached among his fellow Jews, now collecting their hearts and souls for Jesus.

 

I’d like to ask you. What’s your collection? Personally? Maybe some of us are collecting grudges, hurts, fears, addictions. Jesus in this mass calls on each of us to quit collecting spiritual garbage and start following the Lord.

 

Let us all resolve to read the whole Gospel of Matthew and start collecting forgiveness, start collecting healing, freedoms and commitment to the Lord, and experience true joy and freedom in serving Jesus. Amen.

 

St. Matthew – Pray for us 

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Matthew the Apostle