Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew immediately drops whatever he is doing and follows Jesus.

The painting by Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew, shows Matthew among four others, who also appear to be tax collectors. Matthew is hunched over a table, counting change as another tax collector helps him. In his left hand, Matthew clutches close to his chest what appears to be a money bag. The way Matthew slumps over the table and the coins reminds me of the way I must look as I work at my desk during the day, strong in self-reliance and confident in my ability but often forgetting that Jesus says throughout the day, “Follow me.” Just as in the past, the temptation today is strong to cling to what we know. In my own life, there are the attachments to comfort, material goods, and a desire and expectation to earn a certain amount of money and the honor and self-respect that go along with that. How can I be more like Matthew and follow Jesus as he describes in the Gospel: “And he got up and followed him.”

Lord, you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you know when I am falling down. There are days when I feel on the losing end—not enough time, not worthy enough, not wealthy enough—and that if I just manipulated one more thing, things would turn around for me. I think that “me” is what you called Matthew out of. He left the company of tax collectors, the money bag he clutched, and the desperate sense that there is not enough, that there would never be enough. You came to him, Divine Physician, because he was sick and needed to lose his life through following you to find your unfathomable mercy.

I believe Jesus called Matthew in the same way he called Peter to walk on the water. Both were planted firmly on the solid ground of their professional lives: Matthew at his customs post and Peter in his fishing boat. Lord, say to me today: “Follow me.” I can’t be certain I will do your will or that I will even hear you. Let your grace make clear to me what it is you have to give to me. Let me realize that in your love there is enough; there is more than enough.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

The Calling of Saint Matthew

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

The Gospel reading says that Mary and Jesus’ brothers—from Greek, adelphoi, or member of the same religious community—could not join him because of the crowd. Jesus was told that by someone who remains unknown. Did that person believe that Jesus’ mother and brothers had privileged access to him, despite the crowd? By his reply, in no way does Jesus diminish the role of his mother or brothers by saying those who hear the word of God and act on it are his mother and brothers. Are there times when I believe I have privileged access to Jesus, even without hearing and doing his will?

Thank you, God, for the clarity of your Son’s statement. Hear your word and act on it. Hear and act. Without the burden of guilt and shame, I desire to hear and do your will throughout the day. If I were to act only out of guilt or out of shame in recovering from a misstep, I can’t say that is desire to be in your presence. I sometimes believe I am better at identifying what your will is not than what it is. Help me understand how to avoid turning in the wrong direction so that I can keep you in my line of sight and recognize what is your will.

Just as Mary and Jesus’ brothers desired to join him, I also desire to put myself in your presence. Let nothing impede that today; let me hear and act. Stay with me, Lord, and let me know your outlandish love for me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”

In today’s reading, Jesus speaks to the crowd about bringing light to others so that they may see. No one would conceal or prevent the light from shining once having lit it. That makes sense so far. But then Jesus says, all that is hidden will become visible and that all secrets will come to light. For humans, whatever light we have is given by God’s grace and that is all we can give away in turn. But to bring to visibility whatever is hidden and into the light whatever is secret, that belongs to God. Just as God said at the creation of the world, “Let there be light,” so Jesus is able to say that whatever is hidden will become visible and whatever is secret will come to light. Is that what heaven will be like? Will all that is hidden and secret be visible in the light of God’s being?

God, help me understand that the gifts you give me I have to choose to give back to you in return. What else could I do but take to heart and try to understand your words? “To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.” The lamp that you light, God, is the source of all light and in it nothing remains hidden; it has by its essence the power to make what is invisible visible.

Stay with me today, Lord. Bring to light in me whatever remains in shadow so that I will be prepared for that day when all will be brought to light and nothing will remain secret.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Readings

Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit.

In the parable where Jesus is gathered before a large crowd, he tells them of the seed sown by a sower: some fell on the path, some on rocky ground, and some among thorns. That seed failed to grow. But some fell on good soil, “and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” Jesus’ disciples ask him the meaning of this parable, and he tells them but first says something seemingly cryptic: “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.” I feel as if I am the rest the Jesus refers to; that is, I look but do not see and hear but do not understand.

God, help me know where I stand. Over time, I have been each type of seed that Jesus describes. Help me understand how to recognize when the word of God within me is in danger of being trampled, or withering for lack of moisture, or fallen among thorns. There, among thorns, is where I find myself most often when the word of God fails to bear fruit. As Jesus describes the seed that falls among thorns, it is “choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life.” The result of this is that the word of God fails to produce mature fruit. The word of God is immutable; yet, my reception of it—embracing it with a good and generous heart—is what allows God to work through me, body and soul. Saint Paul says it this way as he describes the resurrection of the dead: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.”

What is there, Lord, behind the veil that you want me to look and see and hear and understand? I know you want to give me every good thing in this life. In the life to come, how will I have prepared myself to see you face to face? And the usual place where seed falls—among thorns? How is it that your grace will work in that area of my life? Father in heaven, show me how to live among the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life—the perishable things—without being choked by them. Instead, let me choose to receive your word and by doing that nurture in me what is imperishable so that I can be ready to come into your kingdom.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings