Our Venerable Mother Parasceva of Ternovo (11th c.); The Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus (64-68); Passing into eternal life of Blessed Roman Lysko, Pastor of Youth and Martyr of L’viv.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11; Luke 5:27-32.
Read Luke 5:27-32
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
One of the Roman writers mentioned that he once saw a monument dedicated to the honest tax collector. It was so rare for the tax collectors to be honest that one of them who was exceptionally principled that deserved a monument erected in his memory. Being employed as a tax collector of Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, Mathew was certainly taking advantage of his fellow Jews acting not only in best interests of the Romans, but also in his own selfish interests. Therefore he was equated to the robbers and murderers and was deeply hated by his countrymen and possibly even by his family.
Presumably, it was not always like this. When Mathew was born, his father Alphaeus gave his son two very powerful and much promising names. The name Mathew meant “the gift of God”, while the name Levi was meant to connect him to those who serve and bring sacrifices to God. There was a lot of hope that was fulfilled by one of Alphaeus’ sons James, but discontented by Mathew. By becoming tax collector, Mathew has torn apart his ties with his family and people. Being extraordinary gifted, knowing how to read and write, and possessing a great wealth, he was deeply unhappy and unsatisfied with his choices.
Jesus was able to recognize Mathew’s profound personal tragedy and his longing to reestablish his relationships with other Jews. When he called Mathew to follow Him, Jesus reassured him that he has not entirely lost his dignity and his original purpose of sacrificial service to God (Levi), and being God’s gift (Mathew) to the people of Israel. That is why, after his conversion and sincere repentance, Mathew has written the most “Jewish” Gospel of all. Knowing that many of his countrymen do not know Greek, he recorded the story of Jesus in Hebrew and proclaimed the Good News primarily in Judea after Christ’s Ascension.
The story of Mathew, his vocation and conversion shows us that none of us is beyond redemption and salvation. We may be similar to the prodigal son, as Mathew was, but we can never entirely loose our purpose of being “gifts of God” for our neighbors or loose our genuine identity as sons and daughters of God who “have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Bible References