The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew
1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 9:9-13
Polyeleos Feast. Nativity Fast.
Read 1 Corinthians 4:9-16
I am not sure that Alphaeus was happy that his son, Matthew, ended up being a tax collector while the Romans occupied his land. Surely, Matthew was making his way financially. We do not know whether Matthew cheated others as other tax collectors we read about in the Gospels. He did fulfil an important task for the Romans though – getting the money out of the pockets of the citizens and into Roman coffers. And we do know that he as a tax collector was considered among the Pharisees as one despised along with other sinners. He was a pariah: hated among his own people and the lowest of those working for the Romans. Who or what was his god?
The simple words of our Lord that day in Capernaum, “Follow me,” forever changed his life. That night, at the dinner party he held in his home with other tax collectors and our Lord, we catch a glimpse of what must have happened in his heart. He must have realised that he was disordered in his heart and that the Physician had sought him out to heal him. Matthew began to follow our Lord and learn the way of humility. That ultimately led to our Lord’s death and resurrection. And it led to Matthew’s receiving the Holy Spirit and continuing the mission of our Master. He ended up preaching to the Parthians, Medes, and Ethiopians. Eventually, he was martyred in Ethiopia by being set afire.
The way of humility. It is this very path about which the Apostle Paul writes in today’s epistle. He contrasts the way of humility exemplified first by our Lord and then the Apostles with the way of the world: fools vs wise; weak vs strong; disrepute vs honour; blessing when reviled; enduring when persecuted, reconciliation when slandered. The Corinthians were a proud society and pride is a large highway. Paul admonishes them to take the narrow road of humility.
What road I am walking today?