Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Matthew

The Popish Plot
Fermentation Friday: "Hobbits & Half Pints"

'Tis the Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist (floruit first century, A.K.A. Levi): Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Apostles, Wikipedia-link Evangelists, & Wikipedia-link Gospel.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

According to the Christian Bible, he is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus &, according to Christian tradition, one of the four Evangelists.

Jesus saw, seated in his customs bureau, Levi the publican, whose business it was to collect taxes from the people for their Roman masters. Jesus said to him: Follow Me. Leaving all behind, Matthew arose & did so, thereby giving us all an example of the way in which we should respond to grace.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Matthew
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter four, verses one thru seven;
Psalm Nineteen, verses two & three, four & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses nine thru thirteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, and our Gospel tells of his conversion. Matthew’s laconic account details what the transition from spiritual death to spiritual life is like. First, we notice the look of Jesus. If there is one theme clearly stated in the New Testament it is that of the primacy of grace.

Why? We don’t know. We just know that we will not lift ourselves to spiritual wholeness. A gaze has to come upon us from the outside. Not so much finding God as allowing ourselves to be found.

Jesus says to him, "Follow me." There is nothing simpler or more basic in the Christian life than this. This is what we disciples do: we follow, we walk after him, we apprentice to him. "He got up and followed him." The symbolism here is marvelous. Getting up, rising up—anastasis, the same word used to designate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Conversion (turning around) is also elevation, rising up.

To come to Christ is to come to a higher, richer, broader form of life. Now life is not simply the pleasures and goods of the body; now life is lived in and through God.

Video reflection by Reverend Pat O'Brien: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Iphigenia of Ethiopia, Virgin (floruit first century, A.K.A. of Abyssinia; also spelt Ephigenia): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint François Jaccard, Priest & Martyr, M.E.P. (1799-1838), martyred in the reign of the Nguyễn emperor Minh Mạng, one of the Martyrs of Vietnam: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Martyrs-link Vietnam & Wikipedia-link Vietnam.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert, Bishop & Martyr, M.E.P. (1796-1839, A.K.A. Laurant-Maria-Joseph Imbert, Imbert Bum), martyred in the reign of the Joseon king Heonjong, one of the Korean Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link CIII.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"The Incarnate Word of God continues to speak to the Church through the sacred books. In reading & studying the Scriptures, Christians seek to know God & to understand God's plan for the human family."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"I know that Jesus could not wish useless suffering for us, & He would not inspire me with the desires I feel, were He not willing to fulfill them."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"Beside each believer stands an angel as protector & shepherd leading him to life."
—St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (329-379, feast day: 2 January)