May the words that I speak be both spoken and received in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is the Feast Day, or Festival, of St. Matthew, who is believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew, written between the years A.D. 60 and A.D. 90. He was the son of Alphaeus, was born in Galilee and was a Levite. His profession was that of a tax-collector which made him unpopular and despised by other Jews. This was because tax-collectors served the oppressing and domineering Romans and it was generally believed that they practised extortion.
They were banned from religious communion in the temple and were snubbed in business and social settings. It’s worth mentioning here that when Jews committed sins of various kinds, they would have to go to the Temple to make sin offerings of birds – these being turtle doves or pigeons. One could also make grain offerings. They type of offering would depend on the severity of the sins committed. There were also thanksgiving offerings.
The sin offerings would be carried out by the priest who would be a Levite, for which payment would have to be made. For the money-changers in the Temple, this was the opportunity for them as well to commit extortion. The Jews had no choice but to exchange their normal currency of shekels for temple currency in order to make payment for the sin offerings. In the gospel of Matthew it is written that when Jesus enters the Temple, he drove out all who were trading in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’, but you are making it a den of robbers.”
As we heard in today’s gospel reading, Jesus said: “I desire mercy not sacrifice”. Jesus himself replaces these sin offering which shed blood, with his own sacrifice on the Cross. Christ died once for all and everyone that believes in him understands that no further sin offering or sacrifices need be made.
Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” In today’s collect it says: “Give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain and the possessive love of riches, that we may follow in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ.” Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourself treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal; but store up treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust will destroy, nor thieves break in and steal… you cannot serve God and money.”
We can think of St. Francis of Assisi who was at one time a very wealthy young man, attracted to riches and fame. In 1205 he entered the run-down church of San Damiano. As he prayed, he saw a vision of Christ speaking to him, saying: “Repair my home which is falling into disrepair.”
St. Francis thought that Christ wanted him to rebuild San Damiano church. He eventually realised that he was to found a Religious Order, which became known as the Franciscan Order. He embraced ‘Lady Poverty’, along with chastity and obedience. In 1212 St. Francis founded the Poor Clares with St. Clare, a community of women living by his Rule.
When Matthew heard the Call of Jesus to follow him, he abandoned his despised, yet profiteering way of life. His Gospel is characterized by the emphasis on Jesus being the long awaited-for Messiah. Half of the Gospel of Matthew is drawn from the Gospel of Mark, which is believed to be the 1st Gospel written, but Matthew’s includes much of his own material. The style is concise and seems to be written by a Jew for Jewish readers. It is formal but ideal for reading in public and for teaching.
When Jesus and his disciples were dining with others, including many tax-collectors and sinners, the Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?” Jesus, on hearing this said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick… for I have come not to call the righteous but sinners.”
This should encourage the Church to be hospitable to those who are often rejected by society. There are examples in the gospels which show that Jesus did not practise discrimination and his teaching revealed this. Such as the parable of the Good Samaritan, the giving of ‘Living Waters’ to the woman at the well and his resurrection appearance to May Magdalene.
When Jesus was asked by a lawyer, “which commandment in the Law is the greatest?” Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a 2nd is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these 2 commandments hang all the law and the prophets. He says that as I have loved you so you must love others, if you do you are my friends.
This love is called Agape and basically means friendship. It is no the same as the love of wine, or the love of smart-phones! Neither is it to be confused with passionate, or erotic love.
The church should continue to practise Agape, friendship and to follow this commandment of Jesus. For God is love and God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that all who believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Agape does not include discrimination but true and honourable friendship. Looking to the well-being and welfare of others, especially those who are often rejected by society, like Matthew, who changed his livelihood to follow the Call of Jesus.
God is, and has been throughout the ages a God of surprises. For those who are surprised by the Call of Christ to a new way of living much can be achieved to improve one’s own life and to build up the kingdom of God. The Call of Christ may come at any time (if you have not heard it and followed it already!).
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leave a Reply