St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

Matthew was a publican, a tax collector. Publicans, whose job it was to collect taxes from the people, were not government officials, but private entrepreneurs who provided a tax collection service to the state. They had to earn their own money, and this often led to extortion and abuse of power – a temptation that is easy to condemn… and easy to give in to.

It is sometimes said that all people are for sale, it just depends on what’s on the price tag. Most people, most souls, are unfortunately sold for a rather low price: we have probably all been in a situation where something seems so desirable that we are tempted to give up for its sake even something that is priceless.

The job of a publican was a job of selfishness and greed. As Christians, we are called to live in a completely different way: we are called to sow mercy, light and truth. We are called to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,” who gave His life so that we might live. He is the true light that must shine in our hearts to drive out from them all that is shameful and wrong.

St. Matthew received his call while he was doing what he was despised for – Jesus called him directly from his workplace. This call was so powerful that Matthew followed Jesus without a word – suddenly he had become a seer. He had been seriously ill – deadly ill – but now Jesus had healed him. For that is what Jesus came for: to make the blind see and to light within us the light of truth and love.