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September 21 - St. Matthew

Fr. Michael MachacekNativity of Our LordSeptember 21, 2020
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for the readings of today's mass, go to https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?9

Today the universal church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. A truly holy man.  At, least for the last half of his life.  Because before that, he was a tax collector who worked for the Roman Empire.  He would have been hated by his fellow Jews.  He worked in Capernaum, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, and his position was one that he would have gained by paying the Romans a determined amount in advance, and then on his own collect the money from the people (with no doubt, a healthy "shipping and handling" charge for his own benefit). Truly, amongst the people, he would have been considered persona non grata.

But Matthew didn't care - he had soldiers on his payroll who would protect him, as well as collecting the money from the people.  Life was very, very comfortable - until that day in our gospel that Jesus spotted him.  It was then that this life turned upside down by hearing two simple words, "Follow me".  And he did.  And his life took a dramatic u-turn. 

There has been a lot of good speculation over the centuries as to why Matthew did drop everything and followed Jesus.  There is an excellent chance he would have been quite familiar with who Jesus was as well as His teachings.  Maybe there had been some stirring inside going on him.  In any case, when the call came, he answered. 

Sometimes I wonder what it is that causes people to suddenly change their lives and hand it over to the Lord.  Often it is because they have hit rock bottom.  But whatever it is, praise God for the fact that the call was heard and a response occurred. 

Let us pray then for all those Matthews in our world who are on the edge of answering the call.   

Ms