Mother Church invites us all to celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew – Apostle and Evangelist.  This is the man who heard the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ saying, “Follow me.” He left everything and followed Him.  St. Matthew had a profession, he was a tax collector but He left this job so as to follow Jesus Christ.  “How powerful were the words, “Follow me?” “Who knows what Matthew experienced in his heart upon hearing the words, “Follow me.?”  He simply left everything and followed the Lord Jesus Christ.   

In our times, how important it is for us to be inspired by the example of these saints who dedicated themselves fully to the service of God for the salvation of souls.  St. Matthew in leaving everything and following Jesus Christ clearly shows us that Jesus Christ is everything. Indeed, St. Thomas Aquinas once noted that, “I will have You alone O God as my Highest Good” and also St. Alphonsius Maria di Liguori noted that, “Nothing can satisfy one whom God does not satisfy.”  The saints both known and unknown have found their satisfaction, their joy in God.   

St. Matthew responded positively to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In following Jesus Christ, he wrote the Gospel.  We do not need to write another Gospel but we are to live the Gospel that has been written for us.  Our lives as Christians may be the only “Bible” that some people may ever read.  The question to each and every one of us is, “what am I offering people to read?” 

 Related Bible Verses: Mark 3:13-14; Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-16; Ephesians 2:19-20. 

Prayer: God of mercy, you chose a tax collector, Saint Matthew, to share the dignity of the apostles.  By his example and prayers help us to follow Christ and remain faithful in your service.  We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, always One God forever and ever Amen. 

Rev. Fr. Dr. Hilary R. Munyaneza, 
St. Mbaaga’s Major Seminary – Ggaba