On 21st September, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. His life is an example and a beautiful reminder of the words of Oscar Wilde: “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” Meeting Jesus was the best thing that happened in his life. After his first encounter with Jesus, Matthew was not the same man anymore. He undergoes a total transformation in his life: from being despised to being loved; from being corrupt to being just; from being a traitor to being a faithful follower; from selfishness to selflessness; from being a sinner to being a saint.

Matthew was not a popular man during his time. His profession was looked down upon by the general public. He was employed as a tax collector for the Romans. The Romans ruled Palestine and the Jewish people in the time of Jesus. They forced the Jewish people to pay taxes to them. Many of the tax collectors cheated the people by charging more taxes than required and keeping the extra money for themselves. The Jews considered tax collectors to be traitors. That is why many people felt that he was unworthy to be a chosen as a follower of Jesus. Matthew, a sinner, should be condemned, may have been the popular opinion.

In Chapter 9:9-13 of his Gospel, Matthew tells us the story about his calling. And how the Jewish people felt about tax collectors. In this story, the Pharisees, a group of Jews who strictly followed all the laws of their religion, call tax collectors “sinners.” This is exactly Matthew was known as: a sinner. But Jesus doesn’t look at Matthew as a sinner. He looks at Matthew as a person who can be a saint. That is why, a simple call “Follow me” is enough for Matthew to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. From that day he dedicates his life for Jesus – living with him, learning from him and doing what Jesus did.

Matthew wrote his Gospel for Jewish people who had become followers of Christ. He wanted his audience to know that Jesus was the Messiah that God had promised to send to save all people. Matthew’s Gospel makes clear that Jesus is the fulfillment of everything said by the prophets in the Old Testament. Matthew is also the only Evangelist who shares the eight Beatitudes with his readers. His Gospel faithfully reports how Jesus described who will be truly blessed by God in the Kingdom and the attitudes and actions that are required for those who follow the new Law that Jesus came to establish.

After Jesus’ Ascension, Matthew preached the Gospel, as Jesus asked his disciples to do. It is believed that he established Christian communities in Ethiopia and other sections of the continent of Africa. Tradition tells us that he died as a martyr.

Matthew’s life gives us a twofold teaching. On a personal level, he teaches us that it is never too late to follow Jesus. We can begin today. “Follow me” is the call that each one of us have received from Jesus. It is upto us now, to leave everything behind and follow Him. On a communitarian level, Matthew teaches us that every sinner has a future. Like Jesus, we need help others transform their lives. We need to help others to be the best versions of themselves. Let us learn from St. Matthew and be agents of change around us.
St. Matthew, Pray for us!!
Fr. Movin Menezes