_(Saturday
21st September 2019. Read Ephesians 4:1-13, Psalm 19:2-5 and Matthew
9:9-13)_
_“And as
he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and
sat down with Jesus and his disciples.” *(Matthew 9:10)*_
Two days
ago, we read in our Gospel passage how Jesus was invited for a meal in the home
of a Pharisee and a woman came in to weep at his feet and dry her tears with
her hair. Today, coincidentally, Jesus is again at table in the home of Matthew
the tax collector. Just as the Pharisees were wondering why Jesus did not stop
the woman considering her poor reputation, they had to ask Jesus’ disciples a
question: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
In response
to this question, Jesus said: “Those who are well have no need of the
physician, but those who are sick.” In other words, by eating and drinking with
those who were considered as sinners, Jesus was literally leaving the
ninety-nine in search of the one lost sheep. Jesus was willing to risk his reputation
and associate with “sinners” like a doctor who risks his own life to care for
sick in quarantine.
Indeed, we
would not be wrong to say Jesus was a master at stomach evangelisation. Matthew
and Zacchaeus have something in common: both of them were won over to the faith
through eating and drinking. In the case of Zacchaeus, he felt so honoured and
touched by Jesus’ presence in his house that he publicly announced his
repentance. This same thing happened with Matthew. Indeed, one lesson we learn
is that there is such a thing as stomach evangelization.
How does
it work? By sharing a meal with someone, we not only put food in our bodies, we
literally enter into each other’s world. It is not surprising that mealtime
still remains the most preferred means of creating and solidifying friendships.
Mealtime provides an opportunity for Fathers and Mothers to teach their
children life lessons and really check up on what is happening in their lives. The
saying is true that families that pray together stay together but likewise true
is the family that eats together.
As we
celebrate the feast of St. Matthew today, we not only reflect on lessons to be
learnt from the manner of his call, we also reflect on the fact that God has
called each of us as well through the various gifts and talents he bestowed
upon us. This is what St. Paul teaches us in today’s first reading. No human
being is without special gifts. No human being is useless as far as the
building up of the body of Christ is concerned.
According
to the Catholic Online website, little is known about St. Matthew, except that
he was the son of Alpheus, and he was likely born in Galilee. Matthew was
working at a collection booth in Capernaum when Christ came to him and asked,
"Follow me." With this simple call, Matthew became a disciple of
Christ. From Matthew, we know of the many doings of Christ and the message Christ
spread of salvation for all people who come to God through Him. The Gospel
account of Matthew tells the same story as that found in the other three
Gospels, so scholars are certain of its authenticity. His book is the first of
the four Gospels in the New Testament.
It is
thought he departed for other lands to escape persecution sometime after 42 AD.
According to various legends, he fled to Parthia and Persia, or Ethiopia.
Nothing is recorded of Matthew's passing. We do not know how he died if his
death was natural or if he was martyred. Matthew was a tax collector and is,
therefore, the patron saint of bankers. The Church established St. Matthew's
feast day as September 21.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, open my heart to creative ways of spreading the Good News to
others. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St.
Matthew. Bible Study: Ephesians 4:1-13, Psalm 19:2-5 and Matthew 9:9-13)
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