SERMON/REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST MATTHEW (APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST)
Homily for the Feast of St. Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist). Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13. Matthew 9:9-13. Today the Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ and also an evangelist. St. Matthew also known as Levi was called to discipleship by the Lord as he was sitting at his tax office (Matt.9:9) as we have it in today's Gospel. The tax collectors of the time of Jesus are considered 'enemies of state', 'legal robbers', 'covenant breakers', 'racketeers', etc. It is to this breed that Matthew belongs. No wonder the Pharisees on seeing this, said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (Matt.9:). But Jesus saw in him an Apostle and Evangelist who will later preach the faith in the East and was martyred on account of the Gospel. Though he collects taxes, defrauding almost everyone, but as Jesus called, he listened to Jesus, left everything and followed Him. W...